SALEM — Elizabeth Duclos-Orsello is looking forward to a semester in Luxembourg, a small nation nestled between France, Belgium and Germany.
The Salem State College professor has been awarded a Fulbright grant to teach at the University of Luxembourg.
"I see it as a really great opportunity for me personally and professionally," said Duclos-Orsello, who is coordinator of the American studies concentration at Salem State.
"... I'm looking at this as a chance to become a student of my own culture by leaving the U.S. and looking at it through a different lens."
She will begin her five-month stint in February, teaching two courses: one focusing on immigration and ethnicity in American history and literature, and the other will be an adaptation of the "American Identities" course she developed at Salem State.
Duclos-Orsello, a Beverly resident, plans to blog while she's there.
Her husband, Chase, and their 7-year-old son, Luca, will not live in Luxembourg with her, but plan to visit.
We caught up with Duclos-Orsello recently.
Why did you apply for a Fulbright?
For the chance to teach and learn at the same time in your field, outside of the U.S. As an educator, I'm very interested in how people in other countries and other parts of the world teach and think about the United States.
Was it hard to get?
It's a fairly extensive application process, like applying to college all over again, but worse.
Why Luxembourg?
Over a year ago, I began looking through the listings for upcoming American studies positions for next year. Belgium and Luxembourg have a joint Fulbright Commission, and I applied. The University of Luxembourg is in fact a relatively small institution, much like Salem State.
Have you been there?
I've driven through Luxembourg before, for 50 minutes on the highway going through to other countries, so I never actually stopped.
How will you communicate?
I'll be doing my teaching in English. I speak French, not fluently, but functionally. I thought being someplace where I could put my existing language skills to use and improve them seemed very useful.
You probably don't speak Luxembourgish?
Apparently it's a mix of French and German. I'm really interested in learning a few words.
Why did you choose the field of American studies?
I was interested in big concepts, like what it means to be American and how our culture was shaped, and I was not satisfied that one discipline would allow me to answer those questions thoroughly.
What's your niche?
I would consider myself a cultural historian, but having said that, I'm really interested in identity: things like ethnicity, immigration, urban planning and neighborhood development. I also do a fair amount with the ways American literature shaped what we think of as community.
Is American studies popular at Salem State?
It's a fast-growing course of study. When I became coordinator 21รขÑ2 years ago, we had 20 students. Now we have around 60.
Will you teach your students in Luxembourg about Salem?
There is tons of good North Shore and Salem-based material. In both of these courses, I'll end up talking about the history of immigration in Salem. There is a little on The House of Seven Gables. I'm hoping to be able to have a whole group of students in Luxembourg thoroughly enamored of the North Shore, and then want to come.
Teaching philosophy?
I believe very firmly, in my 12 years of teaching college students, that most students get very excited about learning things they feel have some relevance to their lives. A great way to do that is to help them see how they can get answers to big questions around them.
What are you excited for?
I'm very excited to understand what makes Luxembourg culture Luxembourgish.
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