Sara Zahler

Sara Zahler is an Assistant Professor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures at North Carolina State University. She holds a PhD in Hispanic Linguistics from Indiana University, Bloomington, and previously taught at SUNY Albany. Her research focuses on language variation and change, particularly in second language acquisition, sociolinguistic variation, and individual differences in language learning. She employs usage-based approaches to explore how cognitive mechanisms influence language acquisition and use.

Dr. Zahler teaches courses such as Spanish Syntax and Morphology, History of the Spanish Language, and Second Language Acquisition, emphasizing project-based learning and real-world linguistic analysis. Her work examines trill variation in Spanish, study abroad impacts, and the role of phonological memory in L2 phonology. She has presented at major conferences like NWAV and HLS, and her research spans topics including grammaticalization, dialectal differences, and L2 morphosyntax.

Her current projects include analyzing sociolinguistic variation in language classrooms, the acquisition of Spanish trills by L2 learners, and the influence of working memory on pronunciation. She collaborates with scholars on studies involving Spanish variation in Central America and the Caribbean, as well as L3 acquisition of French by Spanish learners. Zahler’s teaching philosophy integrates pedagogical innovations like High Quality Project-Based Learning to engage students in authentic research experiences.