JALT2025 - Tokyo

Effectiveness of Bilingual Subtitles in Vocabulary Learning

Nov 1, 2025, 1:50 PM

20m

National Olympics Memorial Youth Center / 国立オリンピック記念青少年総合センター

Room 401

Speaker

Mr Takumi Hayabusa (Subprogram in English Language Education, Master's and Doctoral Programs in Humanities, University of Tsukuba)

Description

Previous studies have shown that adding bilingual subtitles to videos promotes vocabulary learning. However, no research has targeted Japanese EFL learners. This pilot study examines the effectiveness of bilingual subtitles for Japanese learners. Specifically, participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups (bilingual subtitles or no subtitles), and pretests, posttests, and delayed tests measure knowledge of target words for meaning recall, meaning recognition and form recognition. Based on Multimedia Learning Theory, which states that learning from words and images enhances learning gains, watching videos with bilingual subtitles is hypothesized to lead to greater vocabulary learning than watching without subtitles.

Summary

This pilot study examines the effectiveness of bilingual subtitles for Japanese learners. Specifically, participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups (bilingual subtitles or no subtitles), and pretests, posttests, and delayed tests measure knowledge of target words for meaning recall, meaning recognition and form recognition.