Learners' preferred L2 vocabulary learning modalities: Iconic gestures are not necessarily most effective for all learners.

This article investigates how four learning modalities—iconic gestures, beat gestures, no gesture, and audio-only presentation—affect second language (L2) Spanish vocabulary acquisition among native or bilingual Japanese speakers, with a focus on learners' modality preferences and language aptitude measured by LLAMA B (an associative memory test). The study found no significant differences in vocabulary retention across modalities themselves; however, learners generally preferred iconic gestures, and importantly, vocabulary retention was significantly higher when learners studied using their most preferred modality. Language aptitude correlated with performance in modalities but not with modality preferences, suggesting that learners may employ different strategies in their preferred modalities independent of aptitude. The findings highlight the pedagogical value of tailoring L2 vocabulary instruction to individual learner preferences rather than relying on a universally optimal modality.