The opportunity to communicate: A social network approach to L2 WTC and classroom-based research

Abstract

This chapter introduces the notion of a social network approach to the study of L2 WTC. The authors first describe the key tenets of social network theory. Then they argue that different aspects of the theory can be applied to explain L2 WTC. In so doing, they focus on the notion of opportunity in WTC and try to analyse it from a social network approach. The authors finally argue that theoretical integration of a network approach into L2 research would allow researchers to further develop, refine, and re-conceptualize longstanding concepts related to groups, classrooms, social categories, and individual differences. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021.