Study Abroad Students’ Social Contacts in Different Linguistic Contexts and Their Relationship With English Use and Development.
Resource type
Journal Article
Status
Published
Recommended form of citation (APA)
Heinzmann, S., Hilbe, R., Ehrsam, K., & Bleichenbacher, L. (2024). Study Abroad Students’ Social Contacts in Different Linguistic Contexts and Their Relationship With English Use and Development. Language Learning, 74(S2), 24-57. https://doi.org/10.1111/lang.12674
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CC BY 4.0 (International)
Proforis OA-status
Hybrid OA
Topic PHSG
Sprachliche und literarische Bildung::Sprachliche Bildung
Fields of Science and Technology (OECD)
Humanities::Languages and Literature::Specific languages
Abstract
Our contribution draws on quantitative data from a longitudinal mixed-methods study to uncover different patterns of social contacts of study abroad (SA) students and the relationship of these social contacts with (a) language use, (b) target language development, and (c) contextual variables. Data were obtained by means of online questionnaires pre, during, and post sojourn. English oral proficiency gains were measured using the Oral Proficiency Interview by Computer (OPIc) test before and after the stay. Latent profile analysis yielded four profiles of social contacts, which differed in terms of the degree of integration into the community of locals or international students. Students with distinct profiles differ significantly with respect to language use but not in terms of language gains. Regression analyses indicate that comparable progress in oral proficiency was made by students across profiles of social contacts and also by those in an English as a lingua franca (ELF) context suggesting that different SA context and networking patterns are conducive to second language (L2) gains.
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Published Version
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Open Access
License Condition
CC BY 4.0 (International)
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