Dr. Kirsten Halling
Associate Professor of French
- Ph.D. University of Virginia, 1996
- M.A. French Language and Literature, university of Virginia.
- B.A. French and Spanish Randolph-Macon College, 1987
Phone Number: (937) 775-2051
E-mail: kirsten.halling@wright.edu
Dr. Halling developed full-blown francophilia at an early age, from listening to her father’s stories of a 1958 trip around France in a WWI era plane with no radio or landing lights. His experiences with French generosity, hospitality and élan fueled his daughter’s enthusiasm for her studies and inspired her to work, study and travel in France on many extended occasions.
Dr. Halling began her career teaching French and elementary Spanish at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Arkansas, a small state university with a surprisingly large international student population. She began teaching at Wright State in 2000, and has witnessed phenomenal growth in the French program.
In addition to teaching Elementary, Conversation, Composition, Film, Theatre, Literature, Culture and Francophone African Literature classes, Dr. Halling has taken three student groups abroad on two-three week Ambassador programs to France and enjoys co-sponsoring many extra-curricular activities that give her students frequent opportunities to speak French in a relaxed setting outside of the classroom.
She and her colleagues are most proud of the accomplishments of the French Club, a group that meets weekly to practice French, plan events, offer free tutoring to beginning students, attend lectures and celebrate Francophone events such as La Semaine nationale du français, la Journée d’immersion, Mardi Gras and La Soirée gabonaise.
Her research interests include: 20th and 21st century literature of French expression, Francophone African literatures and cultures, film studies, gender studies, exile literature, French popular culture and language pedagogy.