Imagery mediation strategy and learning Japanese characters: Paired-associate learning of characters and English translations

The present study examined the effect of imagery mediation strategy on pair ed-associate learning of "kanji" (Chinese characters in the Japanese langua ge). The participants were Japanese-language learners from non-kanji-using countries who had no previous experience with learning kanji. In Experiment 1, imagery mediation strategy and rote rehearsal a ere compared in terms o f test-time and shape-imagery of the kanji. The results showed that imagery mediation strategy was more effective than rote rehearsal. Also, the numbe r of correct cues recalled for high shape-imagery kanji was larger than for low shape imagery kanji. In Experiment 2, 3 groups were compared : an imag ery mediation bq picture (explicit encoding) group, an imagery mediation by imagery instruction (implicit encoding) group, and a non-imager, mediation group. The 3 groups showed different tendencies in terms of the number of correct cues recalled, according to shape imagery. The results of the prese nt study were discussed in terms of the role of imagery in paired-associate learning.