Presentation Enhancing Japanese Learners’ Understanding of Motion Verbs Through First-Person VW Visualizations more

This study examines how different visual perspectives influence Japanese learners’ comprehension of motion verbs ikimasu and kimasu in a 3D virtual world. Two groups of university students in 1st-year Japanese classes (N=23 in a bystander view, N=31 in a subjective view) watched avatar-based recorded animations (70 seconds) within Second Life and provided think-aloud protocols, which were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Findings reveal that the subjective-view group demonstrated stronger perspective-taking, leading to more accurate use of kimasu upon arrival and better differentiation between ikimasu (movement away) and kimasu (movement toward the reference point). Normalized frequency analysis (verb occurrences per subject) showed that both groups used ikimasu and kimasu at similar rates, but the subjective-view group produced past-tense forms (ikimashita & kimashita) more frequently, suggesting better awareness of arrival vs. departure contexts. The bystander-view group struggled with perspective shifts, often misapplying ikimashita instead of kimashita. Additionally, the subjective-view group relied less on English translation, favoring spatial reasoning and contextual understanding. These findings suggest that first-person visualizations enhance the acquisition of perspective-sensitive grammar structures, demonstrating the pedagogical value of VW/VR-based instruction in Japanese language education.