Alexander Gahr

Alexander Gahr is a Lecturer in German as a Foreign Language at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Spain. He earned his doctorate from the University of Santiago de Compostela under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Meike Meliss. His research focuses on verb-preposition combinations (VmP/TMP) in German language learning, particularly at beginner levels (A1-A2) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

His research interests lie at the intersection of second language acquisition, corpus linguistics, and pedagogical grammar. He investigates how learners struggle with verb-preposition combinations due to both intra- and interlingual factors, including interference from their native languages and inconsistencies in teaching materials. His work emphasizes the need for empirically grounded vocabulary lists tailored to specific CEFR levels, especially A1.

The available article reflects a recent study presented in 2024, which combines qualitative corpus analysis using DeReKo with systematic evaluation of existing teaching resources such as Goethe Institute word lists, grammars, and dictionaries. The goal is to develop a high-frequency, pedagogically relevant list of verb-preposition combinations for A1 learners, addressing gaps in current German as a foreign language instruction.

He has presented his findings at the Leibniz Institute for the German Language (IDS) in Mannheim, indicating active engagement with the academic linguistic community in Germany. His methodological approach integrates corpus linguistics with applied language teaching concerns, aiming to improve instructional materials and learner outcomes.