Why did you choose to major in French at SFU? Read more about Birrell’s SFU journey below. Now that she’s graduated Birrell hopes to pursue a career teaching French Immersion at the elementary school level. She says oral projects like these, that were initially intimidating, allowed her to grow by stepping out of her comfort zone. Among many memorable projects, she recounts a slam poem she performed with another student. These friendships, along with engaging coursework, allowed Birrell to flourish within the program. She also become particularly good friends with the liaison librarian for the French department, Ivana Niseteo the two of them often enjoy their shared passion over coffee and French films. While Birrell didn’t always have time to hang around campus, she was still able to build lasting and meaningful relationships with her fellow students and Francophiles, like French alumnus and fellow mature student Rose Doulome, with whom she took several classes and helped with note-taking and getting around campus.

Five years later, she’s graduating with a BA in French. Although she was working, parenting and studying, her passion propelled her through. After years of working as a successful graphic designer, Lisa Birrell came to Simon Fraser University in order to pursue her lifelong love of the French language.

Tou tv memoires vives