Abstract
The main goal of this research is to understand situations of college classroom couples, whose intimate relationship interweaves with learning. Data were collected from in-depth interviews with 24 individuals who is or was one of the classroom couples. These 24 interviewees are from different colleges and departments all over Taiwan. The results show that college classroom couples tend to act in particular patterns. The classroom couples’ choices in course election, seat-picking and assisting each other’s course work, are believed to be influenced by their concerns of maintaining the relationship. Due to the fact that they study in the same department and the same class, classroom couples also tend to compete in their study performance as a way to earn a better self-esteem. The research also finds that curriculum and teaching arrangements of colleges are highly diversed. Curricular systems and course content in certain colleges or departmaents, together with student association activities, can effectively consolidate the identity of students with the department they study, and help classroom couples to emerge. Art and Design related departments are particularly condusive in this regard. The love style of classroom couples is mainly storage love, which is a type highly recognized by the society and making it easier for the couples to maintain their study lives. However, discussion on sex, gender ideologies, and intimate relationship violence is dismissed in the narratives of interviewees. There is no showing of gender division of labour in nonhabitus, not-ready-to-be-married intimate relationships of classroom couples in colleges. This research contributes to a better understanding of situations of contemporary college student’s everyday lives with a focus on the interweaving intimate relationships and learning conditions. Due to sampling issues, this research primarily presents the point of view of female college students in heterosexual intimate relationships.