This study utilizes social network analysis to characterize a typology of study abroad sojourner experience, detailing the relationship of social experience types to second language (L2) proficiency growth and study abroad program design. In contrast with previous research, the study performs a quantitative analysis of structural and compositional network features to identify a typology of social networks. Participants were 30 L2 Spanish learners from five US-based semester-long university study abroad programs in Spain. Social network data were collected using a social network questionnaire, while L2 development was measured through an elicited imitation task. Results identify four prominent social network patterns, characterized by varying levels of Spanish language use, emotional proximity to contacts, frequency of interaction, contact status as program peer or host community member, and network cohesion. L2 proficiency development was significantly affected by these patterns, which were shaped by the contrasting curricular models of study abroad programs.

本研究利用社交网络分析来描述出国留学经历的类型，详细说明了社会经历类型与第二语言（L2）能力增长和出国留学项目设计的关系。与之前的研究相比，该研究对结构和组成网络特征进行了定量分析，以识别社交网络的类型。参与者是 30 名第二语言西班牙语学习者，他们来自美国五个在西班牙进行学期的大学留学项目。社交网络数据是通过社交网络问卷收集的，而第二语言的发展是通过引发的模仿任务来测量的。结果确定了四种突出的社交网络模式，其特征是不同水平的西班牙语使用、与联系人的情感接近度、互动频率、作为项目同伴或主办社区成员的联系状态以及网络凝聚力。第二语言能力的发展受到这些模式的显着影响，这些模式是由出国留学项目的对比课程模式塑造的。