Persian learners mastering kanji : strategies, use, and efficiency

Shekarabi, Zeinab (author), Tajfirooz, Fatemeh (author)

This study examines kanji learning strategies among Persian-speaking learners of Japanese, focusing on variations induced by duration of learning, learner’s gender, and perceived effectiveness. Strategies are categorized into four types: metacognitive, memory, mnemonic, and cognitive. Findings indicate that beginners primarily use memory strategies, while advanced learners favor metacognitive and cognitive strategies. Gender differences are evident, with male learners preferring metacognitive and cognitive strategies, and female learners inclined towards memory and metacognitive approaches. The discovered mismatch between the frequency of strategy use and their perceived effectiveness highlights a potential gap in strategy selection and application. After reviewing the complex dynamics of kanji learning strategies, the study offers critical insights for optimizing kanji acquisition.

• Language: English
• Keywords: kanji learning strategies, kanji use, efficiency, gender, L2 Japanese learners
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 57-85
• Numbering: Vol. 15, no. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-190474
• ISSN on article: 2232-3317
• DOI: 10.4312/ala.15.2.57-85
• Publication date in RUL: 04.11.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Acta linguistica asiatica
• Publisher: Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 2232-3317
• COBISS.SI-ID: 255902464

Licences

• License: CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
• Description: This Creative Commons license is very similar to the regular Attribution license, but requires the release of all derivative works under this same license.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Iranski učenci pri usvajanju japonskih pismenk : strategije, raba in učinkovitost

Abstract

Študija preučuje strategije učenja pismenk pri perzijsko govorečih učencih japonščine, s poudarkom na razlikah, ki jih povzročajo dolžina učenja, spol učenca in zaznana učinkovitost. Strategije so razvrščene v štiri tipe: metakognitivne, spominske, mnemonične in kognitivne. Ugotovitve kažejo, da začetniki večinoma uporabljajo strategije spomina, medtem ko napredujoči učenci dajejo prednost metakognitivnim in kognitivnim strategijam. Opažene so tudi razlike med spoloma: moški pogosteje uporabljajo metakognitivne in kognitivne strategije, medtem ko ženske pogosteje posegajo po spominskih in metakognitivnih pristopih. Ugotovljeno neskladje med pogostostjo uporabe strategij in njihovo zaznano učinkovitostjo nakazuje na morebitno vrzel pri izbiri in uporabi strategij. Po pregledu zapletenih dinamik strategij učenja pismenk študija ponuja ključne vpoglede za optimizacijo njihovega usvajanja.

• Keywords: strategije učenja pismenk, raba pismenk, učinkovitost, spol, učenci japonščine kot tujega jezika