High School Students’ Social Networks Abroad: Revisiting Coleman’s Three Concentric Circles Model

Abstract

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.