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christine roell germany using a case study in the efl classroom case study is a teaching method based on the description of a real or hypothetical situation that requires a ...

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                  CHRISTINE ROELL
                  Germany
                           Using a Case Study in  
                           the EFL Classroom 
                                    case study is a teaching method based on the description of a 
                                    real or hypothetical situation that requires a solution or action. 
                           A No analysis is provided, so learners analyze the case themselves 
                           to make a decision or produce possible solutions. Case studies have 
                           been in use for several decades to train students in business, law, 
                           medicine, and other disciplines by exposing them to situations they 
                           are likely to encounter in their professional practice. Case studies are 
                           considered effective because “by presenting content in the format of a 
                           narrative accompanied by questions and activities that promote group 
                           discussion and solving of complex problems, case studies facilitate 
                           development of the higher levels of Bloom’s taxonomy of cognitive 
                           learning; moving beyond recall of knowledge to analysis, evaluation, 
                           and application” (Bonney 2015, 21).
                           Case studies are also useful for training            advisor who circulates among the students 
                           learners of English as a foreign language            and is available for language-related questions. 
                           (EFL) because to find a solution to a case 
                           study, the learners need to apply linguistic         This article gives general guidelines for EFL 
                           skills in combination with analytical and/           teachers interested in incorporating case 
                           or interpersonal skills—the kind of situation        studies in their teaching; it also provides an 
                           that can occur in “real life,” outside the           example of a case study that can be used as is 
                           classroom. Case studies, a form of task-based        or as a model that teachers can adapt to their 
                           learning (TBL), allow teachers to implement          needs.
                           the communicative approach: the central 
                           focus is on completing a task, and students          LANGUAGE LEARNING AND  
                           use language as a tool to communicate their          THE CASE-STUDY METHOD 
                           ideas instead of doing language exercises to 
                           practice a grammar point or lexical item. TBL        The case-study method is particularly suitable 
                           is considered conducive to language learning         for involving students in spoken interactions, 
                           because it is learner-centered and engages           such as discussions. According to the 
                           students in active learning by providing             Common European Framework of Reference 
                           opportunities for authentic communication.           for Languages, the skills required for formal 
                           The focus of the task is on meaning; it has “a       discussions include the “ability to follow the 
                           clearly defined, non-linguistic outcome” (Ellis      discussion” by “understanding points given 
                           2003, 162), and learners select the linguistic       prominence, keeping up with animated 
                           resources they need to complete the task.            debate” and the “ability to contribute” by 
                           The teacher’s role is that of a facilitator and      “probing, evaluating and challenging the 
       24      ENGLISH TEACHING FORUM                 2019             americanenglish.state.gov/english-teaching-forum
                           To find a solution to a case study, the learners need  
                                 to apply linguistic skills in combination with  
                                      analytical and/or interpersonal skills.
                 contributions of others and arguing one’s         language students will need. High-context 
                 own position convincingly” (Council of            cases are therefore suitable for learners who 
                 Europe 2018, 87). A case study also supports      have sufficient proficiency in English and 
                 interactions through “goal-oriented co-           specialized knowledge about the subject; this 
                 operation” that leads to “collaborative,          is the case for many ESP students studying 
                 task-focused work,” such as “discussing a         business, engineering, or other subjects. If 
                 document” (Council of Europe 2018, 88).           teachers want to create their own subject-
                 Furthermore, case studies provide training in     specific case studies, they may consider the 
                 reading comprehension, audiovisual or aural       possibility of collaborating with a specialist 
                 comprehension (when students watch a video        subject teacher.
                 or listen to a recording), and possibly written 
                 and oral production, such as writing a report     Table 1 summarizes advantages and challenges 
                 or addressing an audience when presenting         of the case-study method.
                 solutions. 
                 Case studies can be tailored to different         CASE-STUDY TOPICS
                 language levels and teaching situations, such     A case study should be based on the 
                 as English for specific purposes (ESP) or         description of a particular situation or 
                 content-based learning (language acquisition      conflict-arousing issue to which students can 
                 combined with the study of a subject matter).     relate. Teachers can use ready-made cases 
                 Topics may range from everyday issues to          studies that are included in some coursebook 
                 high-content cases that require in-depth          packs and found on reputable Internet sites, or 
                 subject-matter knowledge and involve the          they can write their own cases. Teachers can 
                 analysis of accompanying data such as graphs,     create original cases based on current affairs 
                 charts, and other supporting documents. The       or on topics contained in the coursebook. 
                 more complex the case is, the more specific       Articles and other materials (videos, practical 
                 the knowledge and the more specialized the        tips, PDF brochures, menus, etc.) available on 
                                   Advantages                                       Challenges
                  •  Task-based learning can be implemented,       •  Teachers must find case studies that are 
                      and language is used to communicate.            suitable for their learners regarding 
                  •  Language skills are used in combination          content, complexity, and linguistic level, 
                      with other skills (e.g., business,              or they must write the case studies 
                      interpersonal, and problem-solving skills).     themselves.
                  •  Integration of various language skills is     •  Reading and analyzing longer case studies 
                      possible.                                       can be time-consuming.
                  •  Different media can be included.              •  Assessment criteria need to be carefully 
                  •  Some cases can incorporate role plays.           established, explained, and considered.
                  •  Students may generate their own cases.
                 Table 1. Advantages and challenges of using case studies to support language learning
                                                                                                 ENGLISH TEACHING FORUM
                               americanenglish.state.gov/english-teaching-forum   2019                                            25
                              The more complex the case is, the more specific the knowledge 
                                   and the more specialized the language students will need.
                             the Internet can either be used as source texts         •  marketing a product 
                             for the case study or be adapted for classroom 
                             use. Printed materials, such as informational           •  studying the features of an energy-efficient 
                             and tourist brochures, are also useful. Topic              office building
                             areas that teachers of general English courses 
                             may consider include the following:                     •  organizing an international conference
                             •  planning a weekend in a specific town,               •  weighing the advantages and disadvantages 
                                reconciling the various interests of group              of electric vehicles as company cars
                                members
                                                                                     •  improving the accessibility of an office 
                             •  choosing a restaurant suitable for people               building
                                with different dietary requirements
                                                                                     •  choosing a location for a company
                             •  planning a vacation on a budget for a group 
                                or family at a specific destination                  •  choosing a trade fair to exhibit a company’s 
                                                                                        products
                             •  advising somebody on how to reduce 
                                plastic waste in daily life                          On its website, Carleton College offers 
                                                                                     sample case studies for disciplines such as 
                             •  advising somebody on how to lead a                   biology, business, economics, and health 
                                healthier lifestyle                                  sciences (see https://serc.carleton.edu/sp/
                                                                                     library/cases/examples.html). Davis and 
                             •  planning an intercultural party                      Wilcock (2003, 12) outline some topics 
                                                                                     suitable for case studies in science and 
                             •  evaluating a brochure                                engineering, including “to illustrate why given 
                                                                                     materials are used for a particular application” 
                             •  evaluating apartment rental offers                   (metallic bicycle components) and “to 
                                                                                     demonstrate the application of theoretical 
                             Some publishers offer materials that can be used        concepts in an item of sporting equipment” 
                             as short case studies for business English. For         (windsurfing masts).
                             example, In Company from Macmillan Business 
                             offers downloadable worksheets on several               A mini–case study for beginning or 
                             business topics in English at different levels          intermediate learners may be just one or  
                             (see http://www.businessenglishonline.net/              two pages long (an example is presented 
                             resources/in-company-second-edition-resources/          below), while more-complex case studies 
                             worksheets/). Other online information is               can be ten pages or longer. Case studies are 
                             available on these and other business-related topics    suitable for a range of class sizes because 
                             and can be accessed by entering the relevant            a large class can be divided into groups, 
                             keywords into a search engine:                          usually of about six students. The resolution 
                                                                                     of a simple case study frequently involves 
                             •  exploring reasons for the success or failure         making suggestions or deciding on the best 
                                of an actual business takeover or merger             option. Teachers can use a short case study 
                                                                                     after having covered a topic as a way to give 
                             •  evaluating a marketing campaign                      students the opportunity to apply the  
        26     ENGLISH TEACHING FORUM                     2019             americanenglish.state.gov/english-teaching-forum
                               A case study should be based on the description of  
                                  a particular situation or conflict-arousing issue  
                                                to which students can relate.
                   language they have learned, combining it                 o  What are the key problems and issues?
                   with skills required to communicate 
                   effectively in meetings and presentations.               o  What background information and 
                   Dealing with longer, complex cases is time-                  relevant facts do others need to know to 
                   consuming, so it is recommended that                         understand the case? 
                   students read the material and answer guiding 
                   questions for homework before class. If               •  Make sure your story is coherent. This 
                   complex case studies are used, teachers need             means that the argumentation needs to 
                   to consider how to integrate them into the               be consistent. The order of events—the 
                   course syllabus.                                         timeline—must be easy for a reader to 
                                                                            follow, and the relationship between cause 
                   IMPLEMENTING THE CASE STUDY                              and effect in the events must be clear. 
                   According to the BU Center for Teaching &             •  Provide supporting data if necessary (links 
                   Learning (n.d.), a case study usually consists           to statistics, facts about the problem, a 
                   of the following features:                               video that provides useful background 
                                                                            information, etc.).
                   •  A decision-maker who is grappling with 
                      a question or problem that needs to be             •  Use paragraphs to structure the 
                      solved                                                information. Each paragraph should be 
                                                                            limited to the discussion of one aspect of 
                   •  A description of the problem’s context (a             your story and backed up with details. 
                      law, an industry, a family)                           When you move on to another aspect, start 
                                                                            a new paragraph. 
                   •  Supporting data, which can range from 
                      data tables to links to URLs, quoted               The case-study method usually involves the 
                      statements or testimony, supporting                following steps: 
                      documents, images, video, and audio
                                                                         Step 1: The teacher introduces the situation and, if 
                   General guidelines and steps for                      necessary, relevant vocabulary.
                   implementing a case study 
                   The following guidelines can help students            Step 2: Everyone reads the case study and analyzes 
                   write a case study:                                   additional materials. 
                   •  When you are writing a case study, you are         The following procedure can help students 
                      telling a story. Do not analyze the situation;     analyze a case systematically:
                      just describe it.
                                                                            o  describe the context of the situation/
                   •  You need to address the following                         problem
                      questions: 
                                                                            o  describe the main issues/problems
                      o  Who are the protagonists, and what are 
                          their roles? (Change the names if they            o  describe the causes of the problem 
                          are based on real people.)                            (there is usually more than one) 
                                                                                                          ENGLISH TEACHING FORUM
                                  americanenglish.state.gov/english-teaching-forum       2019                                                 27
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...Christine roell germany using a case study in the efl classroom is teaching method based on description of real or hypothetical situation that requires solution action no analysis provided so learners analyze themselves to make decision produce possible solutions studies have been use for several decades train students business law medicine and other disciplines by exposing them situations they are likely encounter their professional practice considered effective because presenting content format narrative accompanied questions activities promote group discussion solving complex problems facilitate development higher levels bloom s taxonomy cognitive learning moving beyond recall knowledge evaluation application bonney also useful training advisor who circulates among english as foreign language available related find need apply linguistic this article gives general guidelines skills combination with analytical teachers interested incorporating interpersonal kind it provides an can occ...

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