Harvard Business School (HBS) Case Method to Teaching English for Business Communication

Abstract

The present research investigated the effectiveness of Harvard Business School (HBS) case method to teaching English for Business Communication in an EFL context. The HBS case method is a commonly-used approach in the field of business and management to prepare MBA students for the challenges of leadership. In contrast, in the field of English language teaching, task-based learning (TBL) focuses on doing meaningful tasks using the target language. The definitions of tasks and the rationale of TBL are first discussed and then the TBL approach and the HBS case method are compared. The pedagogical framework is underpinned by content-based instruction, business case study and task-based learning, in which each approach has its source and theories to support it. A series of independent-groups t-tests were conducted to compare the English-majoring students’ oral performance on business communication with and without the instruction of HBS case method. To find out English majors’ perception toward the business case method, questionnaires were distributed as a follow-up study. Results provide some evidence for the effect of the case method on participation. Questionnaires reflect the learners’ need for specialist knowledge as well as oral communication skills.