In general, then, level of proficiency as a factor in relation to the
acquisition of sociolinguistic competence seems to behave in the same way
as it does for gains in other areas of acquisition in the study abroad situation.
Marriott, Regan, Lapkin, Hart and Swain, and Siegal all find (like
Freed 1990, Lapkin 1995 and Ginsberg 1992) that lower proficiency
learners made the greatest gains and the lower-level learners behave in the
same way as the more proficient ones after a stay abroad.