High School Students’ Social Networks Abroad: Revisiting Coleman’s Three Concentric Circles Model
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v37i2.918Keywords:
Adolescents abroad, Coleman’s concentric circles model, social networks, support program, SwitzerlandAbstract
The present study explores the distinct aspects of adolescents' experiences during their stay abroad in comparison to university students. Specifically, it investigates the evolution of adolescents' social networks and questions the applicability of Coleman's (2013) three concentric circles model to high school students. Drawing on the narratives of nine Swiss high school students participating in a bilingual Matura program in the canton de Vaud, along with insights from previous research on adolescents, I propose a novel model to illustrate the development of their social networks in an international setting. This newly developed model serves as a foundation for considering strategies to support adolescents abroad, with a focus on fostering meaningful connections with their peers, fellow international students, local students, and host families.
Abstract in French
Cette étude explore les expériences d’adolescent·e·s pendant leur séjour à l'étranger et les compare à celles des étudiant·e·s universitaires. Plus précisément, elle s’intéresse au développement de la vie sociale des adolescent·e·s et remet en question l'applicabilité du modèle des trois cercles concentriques de Coleman (2013) aux expériences des lycéen·ne·s. En s'appuyant sur les récits de neuf lycéen·ne·s suisses participant à un programme de maturité bilingue dans le canton de Vaud, ainsi que sur les résultats de recherches antérieures sur les adolescent·e·s, l’article propose un nouveau modèle pour illustrer le développement de leurs différents réseaux sociaux dans un contexte international. Ce nouveau modèle sert de base pour envisager des stratégies de soutien aux adolescent·e·s à l'étranger, en mettant l'accent sur le développement de liens significatifs avec leurs pairs, les autres étudiant·e·s internationaux, les étudiant·e·s locaux et les familles d'accueil.
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