Abstract
This study examines the vocabulary included in the picture dictionaries accompanying the 2024 edition of elementary school foreign language textbooks in Japan. A comprehensive vocabulary list was compiled from 10 picture dictionaries and analyzed based on the total number of words, part of speech, and coverage across publishers. The results indicate that while the total number of distinct words was 1,289, only 147 words (11.4%) appeared in all six publishers’ dictionaries. Nouns dominated the list (74.0%), whereas verbs showed more variation across publishers. A comparison with the vocabulary list from the 2020 edition textbooks revealed both continuity in essential words and new additions reflecting curriculum changes. Additionally, function words and abstract terms were underrepresented in picture dictionaries, suggesting supplementary instructional strategies are needed. These findings indicate that while picture dictionaries generally align with the course of study, variations in vocabulary selection across publishers may influence students’ learning experiences.
https://ror.org/02gn38d51 
