JOURNAL ARTICLE
Abstract: Vocabulary acquisition is a major hurdle in second language learning. This exploratory study employed a single-subject autoethnographic case study to examine the role of morphological awareness in the acquisition of complex compound Japanese words. The study used self-directed, AI-assisted (OpenAI, 2026) intervention as well as AI evaluation and feedback. In this study, an advanced Japanese language learner who struggled with complex written Japanese kanji characters was taught compound lexical items and grammatical morphology through AI-assisted learning, and then evaluated on progress along markers of inference, production, decomposition, and transfer. These measures helped distinguish simple recall after a study session from strategies for morphological understanding when presented with new vocabulary. This study suggests that morphological awareness can play a critical role in second language vocabulary acquisition.
Keywords: Morphological Awareness, AI-Assisted Learning, Kanji.
Article Info: Received: 25 Mar 2026, Received in revised form: 21 Apr 2026, Accepted: 25 Apr 2026, Available online: 29 Apr 2026
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