Elusive Images of Taiwan Held by Self and Others: Portrayals by Local College Students and International Students

[[abstract]]This study aimed to compare the images of Taiwan local students had, as well as the ones held by international students, specifically students originating from Chinese-speaking areas, English-speaking countries, Spanish-speaking countries, Japan, and Korea. The data were collected through interviews, during which students were asked to express their opinions about five themes related to images of Taiwan, including history, culture, civic society, ecological resources, and industry/life. The similarities and differences of the images of Taiwan among these students are as follows: In terms of the similarities, most Taiwanese and international students thought the Japanese colonial period, the 228 Incident, and the Chiang Ching-Kuo period are important aspects of Taiwanese history. The students also agreed that the temple culture is a central element in Taiwanese culture, and that the Taiwanese people are friendly, polite, and kind. In terms of ecological resources, many students believed that air pollution is the main problem in Taiwan. With regard to industry/life, students had positive attitudes toward the “Made in Taiwan” (MIT) label and the health insurance system. The differences, on the other hand, were due to the fact local and international students had scattered points of focus when it came to images of Taiwan. International students from different countries depicted Taiwan differently based on their own life experience. For example, international students from Chinese-speaking areas emphasized the Sino-Japanese War. Students from Spanish-speaking countries focused more on how they perceived the Taiwanese as unsocial. On the other hand, students from Korea pointed out that Taiwan has no identifiable cultural clothing and costume. In conclusion, the images international students have of Taiwan are rather elusive.[[conferencetype]]國際[[conferencedate]]20141028~20141102[[iscallforpapers]]Y[[conferencelocation]]Osaka, Japa