Noelle Arias / Roundup
A country famous for its majestic scenery, historic landmarks, rich, artistic culture, beautiful language and reputation for being the romance capital of the world is what inspires students to be a part of the Pierce College French Club.
Weekly meetings lead by the French Club’s Advisor, Sylvie Young, include learning about French culture, current events and how to speak the eloquent language of love.
Taking the reins in the fall semester, Young, who teaches French one and two at Pierce, utilizes games at the club’s meetings such as French Pictionary, French Scrabble and French Taboo to keep things fun and exciting for it’s members.
The vivacious, petite woman organized and decorated her French Club table with children’s books and photographs of France on a bright red table cloth in the Great Hall on Monday while some of the members of the French Club on the other side of the room sold authentic French cuisine to aid in the relief efforts for Haiti and Chile.
“It’s important to have an enthusiastic and upbeat French Club on campus to get others interested in the culture,” said Young.
Born in Valence, France, Sylvie Young is the only person associated with the French Club that is actually from France. During her senior year in high school, she decided to participate in an exchange program where she spent a year of her studies in upstate New York.
“I always wanted to see the world, especially the U.S., so when the opportunity came around, I grabbed it,” said Young.
She explained that in France, it is a requirement that students learn two foreign languages before they graduate high school. Young chose to learn English and German and later learned Spanish while in college.
“I always thought my English was good until I went to New York,” she said, “then I had some doubts.”
Young was always facinated with American Culture, especially with that the French call “Pom-Pom Girls.”
She had no idea what being a cheerleader actually entailed but regardless, she managed to make the squad where the majority of the girls disliked her for whatever reason.
However, throughout the season Young became friends with the other cheerleaders and also learned about American Football.
According to Young, there are very little sports teams in the schools in France. In fact, students cover their first two years of college general education while in high school due to longer school days and extreme focus on academics in the French education system.
Of course, the French never lack romance.
While completing her studies in France, Young met an American exchange student from California with whom she fell in love with and followed back to the United States.
“It’s funny because my French friends thought I was leaving because I was pregnant and his American friends thought I wanted a Green Card,” she giggled, “but no, we were in love,” she said with a beaming smile on her face.
After a small wedding in France, Young and her new husband came back to the U.S. where she worked different jobs and attended UCLA where she earned her MA and PHD in French and Francophone studies.
Now completing her second semester as a faculty member at Pierce and as advisor to the French club, Young demonstrated the art of lace making during the Multicultural Event organized by the French Club.
She eagerly explained the simple technique of lace making which she learned during trip back to her hometown in France over the summer and encouraged on-lookers to give it a try.
The art of lace making has been around in France since the 16th century when royalty liked fanciful and extravagant details added onto their clothing.
The handmade lacework has since almost completely died out due to technological advancements, but a group of ladies in Lorraine, France, where Young moved to as a small child and grew up, are reviving the old ways.
“It’s a pleasant thing to do and to think that people have been doing it for so long, it’s a connection to the past I enjoy,” said Young to a student who was watching the intricate heart-shaped pattern being made by 14 bobbins and countless pins holding it together.
Almost too intimidated to try, one student gathered up his courage after being reassured by Young that it wasn’t difficult at all and attempted to dive head first into French culture.
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Sylvie Young, Pierce College French professor, displays items at her booth to identify French culture during a multicutural fundraiser held at the Great Hall Monday. (Sayed Balhki / Roundup)
