This article examines the connections among self-reported social network development, L2 use, and self-perceived
speaking proficiency development in a group of Belgian ERASMUS students (n = 59) who studied abroad in different
European countries (Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and the UK). The results suggest a number of
differences between the participants in this study and the US cohorts who have been traditionally the focus of previous SA
research. For example, the Belgian students report high levels of proficiency in the target language before going abroad and high
levels of target language use while abroad. Furthermore, a number of social network variables point to differences between the
ERASMUS students in the present study and the US students featuring in previous research. Nevertheless, the results also reveal
some similarities, especially with regard to the social network variables ‘size’ and ‘intensity of friendship’ which were
predictors of language gains for the group of students under analysis in this study and, consequently, corroborated findings of
previous studies conducted with US cohorts.
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