More help from state Program assists low income students to succeed

time students with less than 70 units. They must also be eligible for the Board of Governors fee waiver, and educationally disadvantaged.

The Modern Languages Department received a new addition last month with French native and professor Anne le Barbu.

Though hired only a month ago, le Barbu has taught French for 15 years in universities and community colleges. She has previously taught at Long Beach City College and East Los Angeles City College, in addition to stints at private schools. She received her bachelor’s degree from University de Rennes in France and earned her master’s at San Diego University.

Le Barbu snatched up the offer to teach full-time at Pierce and considers it an honor, especially with the state of the economy.

Since first coming to the United States in 1998 as an exchange student in Louisiana, she has wanted to teach French outside of France. Meeting her husband here solidified her decision. “I stayed here because of love,” she said.

Le Barbu, who comes from Bretagne, (Brittany) in the northwest of France, still misses her home and makes an effort to visit family once every two years. Still, she admits, when she goes abroad she equally misses the U.S.

Her authenticity that comes from being born and raised in France is a highlight that draws students towards her class.

“She’s adorable,” Daniel Ramirez, engineering major, said. “It’s cool that we have a legit French teacher actually from France.”

Others are glad her upbringing goes hand-in-hand with her skill at teaching the language.

“[She offers] very good language immersion,” Ben Ditzel, computer science major, said. “She’s very enthusiastic.”

In turn, she’s glad to be able to share part of her language and culture with students.

“If I meet [a student] on campus and they tell me something in French,” le Barbu said “[it’s]for me it’s very rewarding.”

Le Barbu has enjoyed her month here and is eager to explore what more the campus has to offer.

“I’m looking forward to continue teaching here for many years to come.” she said.

Students in need of help may qualify for the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS).

EOPS is a program that is funded through the state to help and support low-income families and or educationally disadvantaged students working by giving financial aid to help achieve their post education goals.

What EOPS offers is academic counseling, as well as career counseling, Mona Altounji, senior office assistant, said.

The program also offers tutoring, transfer workshops, university fee waivers, book grants and priority registration.

“I loved it,” former EOPS student Yessica Ortiz said. Ortiz said that the program helped ease her transfer to Cal State Northridge after two and a half years.

Any students interested in the EOPS program must qualify before being accepted.

In order to be eligible, those interested must be full-

There are three mandatory meetings in a semester that a student must attend. The second meeting is with a peer advisor. The first and last meeting is with a counselor to ensure students are meeting requirements.

“What I love the most is the contact with the students. It never gets boring,” Altounji said.

The EOPS program will be taking applications for fall 2012 beginning Aug. 2.

Bienvenue au club français.

No, you do not have to know what that means to join the French club on campus. A friendly group of members gather on Thursdays from 1 to 2 P.M in Bus 3205 and shares their love of all things French.

They are few but faithful club members and due to Club Rush they are looking forward to seeing new faces.

“I don’t know any French, “ Rosa Eligio an 18 year old sociology major said, but she is interested in hiking and French Films.

Eligio is in luck because the French club currently host French Film Fridays starting at 5 P.M. in Bus 3205 The club is also preparing for French Culture Day on March 20. The club is also planning a trip to the J. Paul Getty Museum after spring break.

Professor of French Anne Le Barbu is the club advisor and hopes that the members practice their French during the meeting.

“You don’t have to speak French,” Le Barbu said to the new club mem- bers, “you have to be interested in the culture.”

Club vice president, Maria Urruc 19 anthropology major, said she is looking forward to the event aimed at students who for one reason or another are not able to make it to the French Club meetings.

“It’s going to be called ‘A Guide to Surviving in France,” Urruc said. The members and their advisor are very enthusiastic about the future of the French club. This semester the club has met twice, but is welcoming to new members all year round.

“[I like] just how friendly everybody is, “ Eligo said.