Are English Learning Experiences Related to Taiwanese Female Students’ Aspiration to Cross-Cultural Romance with Western Males?

Desire has been a marginal topic in TESOL. This study investigated whether and to what extent English learning affects Taiwanese young females’ aspiration toward western males. Four hundred ninety-nine respondents filled out a questionnaire that investigates their English learning experience and aspiration to cross–culture marriage with western males. Sixteen were interviewed. Results showed correlations between the acceptance of marrying a westerner and the following variables (in the rank of strength): 1. Preference for western movie stars, 2. Parents’ attitudes toward marrying a westerner, 3. Perceptions of compliments from native-English-speaking teachers, 4. Making foreign friends as the motivation to learn English, 5. The fondness of learning English, 6. Becoming more charming as the motivation to learn English, and 7. Going abroad as the motivation to learn English. The findings suggest that the experience and motivation of English learning did influence the female students’ aspiration toward western males, but not as strong as their inner motivation and the mass media.