Peranan Reka Bentuk Multimedia dalam Menyokong Pembelajaran Aplikasi Bahasa Jepun: ‘Learning Japanese is Fun’

The Role of Multimedia Design in Supporting Japanese Language Learning Applications: ‘Learning Japanese is Fun’

Abstract

Perkembangan pesat aplikasi pembelajaran mudah alih (MALL) telah menghasilkan pelbagai platform pembelajaran bahasa Jepun, namun kajian terdahulu lebih banyak menekankan keberkesanan umum tanpa meneliti secara terperinci elemen reka bentuk multimedia yang mempengaruhi beban kognitif pengguna. Kajian ini bertujuan menilai elemen reka bentuk multimedia dalam aplikasi tempatan Learning Japanese Is Fun (LJIF) dan membandingkannya secara sistematik dengan aplikasi komersial Duolingo dan LingoDeer. Pendekatan kualitatif digunakan melalui analisis kandungan artifak dengan sampel purposif terdiri daripada 20 skrin LJIF dan 10 modul perbandingan, dinilai menggunakan rubrik Likert 1–5 merangkumi lima domain utama: teks, audio, grafik/ikon, warna/kontras, dan UI/navigasi. Dapatan menunjukkan LJIF menonjol dari segi ilustrasi budaya dan integrasi multimedia asas, namun kelemahan signifikan dikenal pasti termasuk kualiti audio tidak konsisten, penggunaan teks yang tidak konsisten, isu kontras warna, serta navigasi linear yang meningkatkan beban kognitif luar. Berbanding aplikasi komersial, LJIF didapati kurang sistematik tetapi memperlihatkan potensi melalui nilai estetika dan konteks budaya yang kuat. Kajian ini menegaskan bahawa reka bentuk multimedia yang seimbang dapat mengurangkan beban kognitif dan meningkatkan keberkesanan MALL, sekaligus menyediakan garis panduan praktikal untuk pendidik, pembangun aplikasi, dan pelajar.

The rapid development of mobile learning applications (MALL) has produced a variety of Japanese language learning platforms, but previous studies have focused more on general effectiveness without examining in detail the multimedia design elements that affect the cognitive load of users. This study aimed to evaluate the multimedia design elements in the local application Learning Japanese Is Fun (LJIF) and systematically compare them with the commercial applications Duolingo and LingoDeer. A qualitative approach was used through artifact content analysis with a purposive sample consisting of 20 LJIF screens and 10 comparison modules, assessed using a 1–5 Likert rubric covering five main domains: text, audio, graphics/icons, color/contrast, and UI/navigation. The findings showed that LJIF excelled in terms of cultural illustration and basic multimedia integration, but significant weaknesses were identified including inconsistent audio quality, inconsistent use of text, color contrast issues, and linear navigation that increased extraneous cognitive load. Compared to commercial applications, LJIF was found to be less systematic but showed potential through strong aesthetic value and cultural context. This study asserted that balanced multimedia design can reduce cognitive load and increase the effectiveness of MALL, while providing practical guidelines for educators, application developers, and students.