OnomaVR is the prototype I developed for my thesis to examine whether situating Japanese onomatopoeias in a VR context improves learner retention. Traditional methods often restrict learners to a single-word or context-less sentence translation from their native language, an approach that is rarely ideal.

In contrast, OnomaVR provides the learner with a concrete experience in which to internalize the word's meaning. Through the creation of five VR modules, I learned a great deal about authenticity, culture, and the critical importance of co-constructing these learning experiences with a native member of the target culture. My study found that although VR learners and non-VR learners did not differ too much in terms of testing, what VR learners gained were context-rich stories that accompany the definitions they acquired.