Unraveling the local tapestry: exploring English language learning motivations in Taiwan’s unique cultural landscape

Abstract This study delves into the intricacies of English language learning motivations in Taiwan’s unique cultural landscape by unraveling the local tapestry of sociocultural factors and individual perceptions. Utilizing a structured photo-elicitation method across a range of ages and socioeconomic conditions, results revealed four main emergent categories. Sense of self represents informants’ struggle with English use in social settings, where the language is rare in daily life. Facilitating conditions reflects the tension arising from English requirements contrasted with limited practical applications. Worldliness represents how informants actively situate English in their daily lives, primarily through media. Lastly, perceived goals concerns social mobility and travel abroad, aligning with expectations of gaining competitiveness in the neoliberal global economy. This study highlights the importance of examining motivation in English language learning within a context of local influences while considering the transmodality of local language practices. Our findings suggest that English language learning motivation in Taiwan is shaped by strong motivators that do not fit neatly into an extrinsic/intrinsic dichotomy. This research contributes to the understanding of language learning motivation, emphasizing the need to unravel the local tapestry of factors that shape individual motivations and frame English language learning experiences.