Fun professor, flexible and approachable. Demands a tolerable amount of work.

He is by far my favorite prof I've ever had. He's so funny and down to earth.

An awesome prof! knows his stuff and makes class interesting!

Very enjoyable class.Very helpful professor.Always willing to talk with students

Makes the class interesting and is really friendly; doesn't give too much work

Absolutely wonderful professor. I have have learned so much.

Amazing professor. Very knowledgeable and a wonderful voice to listen to!!!

No one should miss this prof. Class is fun no matter the material. AWESOME PROF!

He is the best prof I've ever had. He's sooo friendly and smart. Genuine guy.

Very knowledgeable of subject matter. Extremely fair. Very nice.

Nice guy-funny and down to earth, but class was difficult.

Very friendly and down to earth. Is always willing to help students a lot.

Very interesting class, good prof.

He's the best prof I've ever had! He's genuine and cares about his students.

He's the best prof I've ever had. Truly genuine and intelligentman

What I learned in his class helped me in the "real world" at my job

Terrible subject, I'd advise against, but good teacher

He's such a great teacher, very interesting to listen to, very nice

always willing to help, very friendly and un-intimidating, great class

Really cool british accent, great lectures/discussion

Wonderful Professor! Always willing to help inside and outside of class.

Cool accent! makes class interesting, but a lot of reading.

Makes class very interesting and fun, really cares about students.

Wonderful teacher. Makes the class interesting. Nice and very helpful!

He is a good guy, but a VERY hard grader!!! Be careful! He gives lots of work :(

Very flexible and helpful to the students....very educated!

Nice guy. I learned a lot

Easy class. exams are easy, I rarely came to class, got a B

Very cool Prof. Can't go wrong w/ Alvarez.

Heavy reading load, but understands non-english majors and grades fairly. Funny!

Great class, very friendly, and easy, must write well on exams for an A

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What a wonderful teacher! I took this course because he was teaching it, and while some of the material was rather dry, he made it interesting! Also his accent was way cool.

Wonderful prof!! His accent is so kewl!!! I love it! He's smart, funny, and is fair in his work. Take him if you can!!!

very tough grader. attending class accomplishes nothing, notes and discussion aren't very good.

Alvarez is perhaps one of the best within the English department. Wish we could have more prof's like him. Perhaps the English department would improve.

students who are in college for job training, do not attend. You will destroy the intelligent climite that alvarez tries to bring about

ok let me be honest. this man is intelligent, kind and knowledgable, as well as very experienced in his specialty. Sure, he has his boring moments, but overall, if you attempt to engage the class in a discussion, it can get a lot better. Attractive too..

great teacher, great guy. i wish there had been cooler people in my class so that the discussions he tried to bring about hadnt been so lame and uninformed (i had this class in the beginning of the war in Iraq).

What a sweetie. He tries really hard to make the class useful and understanding. He also understands that the capstone is really misplaced in the GVSU curriculum. He values his students' opinions too. I highly recommend him.

Take this class even if you're not a literature student. You will learn more in this class and from this professor than all your others combined. Forget the people who say he's biased, he is not; he simply states the facts. Everything he said in class I double checked myself; he was always right!

I took David for two classes. Let me tell you this, you had better be interested, and do the reading otherwise David will get discouraged and not really care anymore. Make the class good and so will he, not care, and hell come in wearing hawaiin clothes and ramble on..

Alvarez is a great professor. His focus for my class was understanding how colonialism affects its sybjects and how that manifests itself in their writing. He is witty and informative. I would highly reccomend him, you will learn much more than you might expect.

Take D.A. to broaden your horizons. Genuinely nice person; wants his students to become more familiar w/the world & develop more-informed views. W/o his class, I wouldn't have read this lit nor learned 1/2 of the critical historical info. Warning: Sad to see how closedminded some classmates can be!

good prof. if you like more of a non-traditional english class this is it... he does a great job with the class and talks to class about reading deadlines... great class, i was glad i took it, just be ready to read, a lot...

This is a great teacher! He teaches things from a different perspecitve, not in a "biased" manner like some on here suggest. He has had a lot of experience in the world and it shows. You get history along with english and that is just as important for understanding the texts. Take him!

So tough. Too much work. He has a cool accent and he cancels class a lot, but he's hard to follow and seems to hate America. I started out liking the class, but in the end, I wanted to get out asap. It's boring and pointless.

Awesome teacher! loved to help you out and genuinely loved his content. Charming accent too. take his classes! you won't regret it!

I thought he was nice. The class is kind of odd for a Lang Arts major tho because you don't see much sense in it. Grading is purely subjective (2 projects and a self eval) which can be tough as he is VERY vague because he wants you to be creative. If you participate and visit his office, A / A- easy

It's a really interesting class and you learn much more from it than just the ideas behind the stories. He's very helpful,clear with his objectives and incredibly engaging to listen to. I recommend this class whole-heartedly.

He's a good prof, really nice! His accent is fun to listen to. You read a TON, so be sure you like reading. Some of the books are iffy and it gets boring talking about the same book or topic for three class periods. But you learn some neat things about different cultures, which is always cool.

I think he is so hot. I know he's almost 40 but, maybe I just have a thing for men that are tall, dark, and accented. Anyway, if you just participate & speak/write FROM YOUR HEART you will get an excellent grade. By the way, does anyone know if he's still married? Don't see a wedding ring anymore.

In love with David

A good instructor. I was not used to the format of the class. I'm still not but it was a good course just the same.

A great Prof! He knows his material and he makes the class very interesting. There's a lot of reading required, but it's worth reading for the discussion in class. He's opened to different opinions on the works--there's not just one correct answer. Make sure you participate.

Prof. Alvarez was great! He was very friendly and open to different opinions, and if you disagree with him, he'll take time to hear you out. The text was difficult, but he took time going over it and answered all questions. I didn't like the conversational style of the class, but he makes it work in the student's best interest.

He was an awesome teacher and is willing to help you if you go into his office. He's a fair grader, and he's willing to let you revise your first paper all semester.

he's pretty cool, and i like the topic, but i found the class itself to be pretty boring most of the time. however, i will say i definitely learned a TON in this class, and i'm glad i took it.

Good class. The reading wasnt terrible (but it was a lot of poetry). I didnt like was the way that he grades. He doesnt use the letter grading system. It is based on self-evaluations, an interview at midterm, and the final research project. Project was not bad, so much information in the class that research topics were easy to find.

Does a lot to try and make possibly boring subjects more interesting with music, videos, etc. Teaches a lot of relevant history to better understand contexts. You will learn a lot about the texts, just make sure they're ones you want to learn about. Pretty good prof, but choose your English classes based on the book list, not always whose teaching.

A little long-winded at times, but overall a very witty and interesting prof. Very willing to help with papers and expanding one's writing skills. Encourages students to go beyond the obvious. Very good prof, very funny, excellent altogether!

Very witty and knowledgeable professor! Grading system is odd, but do not be afraid to ask him to clarify it. He was extremely helpful with one on one meetings for discussing papers and paper topics. I would recommend this professor.

I really loved Professor Alvarez. He is an extremely interesting person- he is so wonderfully British. The subject matter wasn't terribly interesting to me, but I enjoyed the class because of the teacher.

He's a nice guy. The subject matter isn't always the most interesting thing. Reminds me of an AP English class... a lot of literary and thematic analysis. Lots of discussion and participation is required! He WILL call you out if you aren't paying attention so be sure to do the reading! No clear cut grade which is ANNOYING! I'd recommend the class!

This was a pretty easy class. It seemed like more of a history class than an english class. We had a few papers and reading responses that he graded pretty hard on, but overall it was an ok class. He has an english accents and he mumbles a bit so sometimes it is hard to understand him.

He's great. He's got an British accent for goodness sake

Awesome guy! you read four novels in class, he's pretty fair about time given and gives you the topic you will have to write about in class ahead of time. He realizes the topics aren't interesting and is really kind about due dates, etc. He is easy to talk to and super helpful...definitely cares about his students!

I did not like this teacher. i was excited for the class beforehand, but at the end i was just glad that it was over. He is from Gibralter, and has very anti american comments. he also is a hard grader, expecting papers to be really long. good luck.

He's a nice, knowledgeable man but picked some strange pieces to tackle. 3 papers and in-class responses comprise your grade...if you don't like participation and group discussions avoid, he makes them awkward

Good professor, very nice and cared about the students. It was made up of 3 large papers and 5 in-class responses, on top of class discussion. Grades a bit tough, and sometimes the class felt like a history course, but it was an alright class. He has some outlandish choices in literature and articles, though. Avoid if you don't like reading + disc.

I absolutely loved this class and him as a Professor - I'm taking him again next semester. He is a tough grader when it comes to papers but he is always happy to give you feedback on papers before you turn them in. Definitely have to do the reading as much of the class is discussion based. I learned so much more than just the stories - great class!

Great teacher who knows what he is talking about. I have little to no interest in literature, but he makes it interesting and I learned a lot of world issues (past and present). Class participation is required, but you'll never feel stupid giving your own input. Highly recommend this teacher and class.

Good prof. He grades papers pretty average. I'm a very experienced writer and got A-'s on most. Lots of class discussion, make sure to at least glance at the assigned readings for a particular day. Everything in the course is clear; it's pretty straightforward. He's very amicable and constantly encourages students to attend his office hours.

Amazing Professor and extremely intelligent! Knew what he was talking about and made things very interesting! Highly recommend this course!

He gives quite a bit of background history on the texts and authors, which can get boring, but grades really fair and is extremely willing to help you. He extends his office hours to work with your schedule and is quite the character to talk to. He made everyone get to know everyone so the class discussions were phenomenal.

Great Prof., gives a lot of background information about the readings. Very fair on grading, class is interesting. However, he is very opinionated on certain topics and may tell you your wrong if you oppose his view.

Great professor! Knows how to involve everyone in a class discussion and keep it interesting. One of the best courses I've taken so far. Goes above and beyond to help students and make difficult topics clear to them. Definitely recommend!

Extremely intelligent professor! Kept the class involved and learning. All assignments were logical and had a point. More emphasis on learning than grades (nice for a change!). Definitely willing to go above and beyond for students.

He knows so much more than what he can fit into the class periods. He was engaging and interesting. READ the materials. He doesn't demand a lot, so it is completely do-able. It's less "world" literature and more post-colonial, but still very interesting! Visit him out of class. He's great!

So relaxed! Good at his subject and really accomodating

Alvarez is a really cool and interesting person. He encourages students to go to his office and talk about anything, especially the course. He is very helpful and easy to talk to. We only had three books and a couple papers, which isn't a lot for an upper-level English course. Essay exam. I would recommend him and would take him again.

I fell in love with Alvarez in genres, and decided to take him again for world lit. He chooses great literature to assign, and makes sure his students understand the context of what they're reading. He's clear in his instructions for assigned papers, and gives very thorough feedback. With a positive attitude, there's no excuse to not get an A.

Alvarez is a great professor. He's clear about what he wants and is willing to discuss any discrepancies for clarification. Be willing to participate and read the required texts.

Prof Alvarez is absolutely incredible. He has a fun accent, and I promise he doesn't look as creepy as the picture. He encourages class discussionparticipation and apparently grades us on it, but at the end of the class allows you to write an essay about why you diddidn't do well& your reflection. He loves hearing your thoughts. Easy A.

He loves it when you go to his office hours to talk about your life and is known for giving books away. If the class is a good one, he creates this amazing open atmosphere to allow students to bounce ideas and he just sits back and lets you discuss your views. Incredible professor.

Professor Alvarez is very passionate about the reading and topics he brings in to class. He encourages office visits and is easy to get in contact with if you can't. Great discussions have been had in class.

Alvarez is a good professor and is very knowledgable in English. I personally didn't like the readings he chose for the semester and thought that the genre he chose wasn't one that many of the students enjoyed. Great guy. Boring class.

Very worldly and fun to listen to. You must be prepared for every class; there's little room for slacking. He is actually interested in what his students have to say-talk to him during office hours! There aren't many opportunities for points so take advantage of them while you have the chance. Loved this class; would definitely take again.

There aren't many assignments so not many opportunities for points; gives an indepth rubric and examples of past papers for each assignment. Focuses on postcolonialism instead of genre, but I didn't mind it at all. Wonderful to talk to and is always willing to talk about assignments and even stuff outside of class. Can attend events for extracredit

Professor Alvarez was overall a great professor, but you need to be ready to read an to read deeply because the material for this class was difficult at the best of times. For the amount of credit you get though, it's totally worth it. He has an accent, but it's easy to understand, although he does tend to get quieter the longer he talks.

I was initially pretty scared of what this class would be like because of the ratings I'd read, but I really enjoyed it. Alvarez is a great professor, although his voice can bore you a bit. There's quite a bit of reading, but it's enjoyable. Class discussions are plenty and productive. Only bad thing is you don't know your grade until the end.

Prof was great. Very enthusiastic about class and the subject he was teaching. Get ready to write, there are a lot of assignments, but they are doable, and he gives good due dates. He is accessible outside of class, and is very helpful.

Professor Alvarez was hands down one of the best professors that I have ever had. He was incredibly respectful, cares about his students' well being quite a bit, and gives reasonable amounts of work. You do have to actively participate in this class to pass, but he doesn't ask for anything ridiculous from his students. 5/5 would HIGHLY recommend.

Wonderful professor, he is really clear about how he will be grading things and will inform you down to the smallest detail. It would be hard to fail his class if you pay close attention to everything he tells you and follow the instructions closely.

Dr. Alvarez is a great guy, though he is very intimidating at first. He is very professional, but will give you encouragement and excellent feedback. Honestly, he helped me grow in confidence in my writing skills and was understanding with all of the struggles COVID-19 brought into the picture. Would recommend; he has a lot of knowledge and class!

A lot of lectures. Kind of a tough nut to crack, but he actually has a great sense of humor. Definitely intimidating but is willing to talk to you and workout issues. A very understanding guy. Easy reads, only 2 papers. Tough grader though

If you dont mind reading and writing this class is great. 2 papers and 4 oral presentations make up your whole grade. The whole class is about unauthorized migration and Prof Alvarez is not from the US so he offers another perspective which is super helpful. I really liked this class

I'm not gonna lie, Dr. Alvarez was VERY intimidating the first day of class. However, within the first 2 weeks, he became one of my favorite professors of the semester. He's very clear on guidelines and he's flexible if you make a mistake and explain what happened. For a SWS course, there isn't as much reading and papers as I anticipated:)

When I first met him, I was very intimidated, but he was truly one of the most caring professors I have ever taken. I would say he is strict but just do the readings and come to class prepared and it is honestly a breeze. I would take any class Alvarez teaches, and do actually look for them.

Prof. Alvarez was an amazing professor. I took ENG 105 for a Gen Ed, but I found it more applicable than many of my major courses. We talked about some tough topics and it was a lot of in-class discussions, which I was nervous about at first. However, I found this class to be very rewarding and would 100% suggest taking a class with Prof. Alvarez.

Professor Alvarez was incredible. The class was so informative, and I learned a lot. There is a lot of reading, but nothing we read was boring and it was manageable. He cares about every single person in the class and responds to emails quick. I enjoyed going to class.

He was always very understanding throughout the semester as long as you communicated with him. He was super insightful and his lectures were always pretty interesting. He is a pretty tough grader though but the feedback he gives on assignments is always detailed and understandable.

This professor was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about his field of world history, with stories and experiences to back up years of knowledge. He cares a lot about student engagement and has an old-school style in terms of written assignments and little online homework. He is a tough grader, especially compared to other gen ed courses.

Professor Alvarez can be intimidating at first, but once you get to know him, you will understand that he is just very passionate about what he teaches. He has a more traditional teaching style--class discussions, readings, no phones out, etc.--which I found to be very valuable in learning the course material. One of my favorite professors!