A study investigated the relationship between language contacts made outside of the classroom by Japanese foreign students and how those contacts affect their participation within the classroom and their overall academic performance. Subjects were 32 university students from Japan enrolled in an intensive language program. All of the students had studied English in secondary school as well as at the university. The students were classified as high-input-generators or low-input-generators according to their participation in class, and responded to a questionnaire concerning language contact. Teachers' observations of student participation and subjects' grade point averages were also gathered. Results indicate a positive correlation between use of English outside and inside the classroom with high academic achievement in language and academic subject matter. Low language contact and low participation in class also correlated with low academic achievement. Promotion of participation in the community and encouragement in development of social contacts outside the classroom are recommended for foreign students. The language contact questionnaire is appended. Contains 14 references. (MSE)