“Case Study” method and its application in teaching “Business English” for international law specialty

Abstract

Although case study methods remain a controversial approach to data collection, they are widely recognised in many social science studies especially when in-depth explanations of a social behaviour are sought after. This article, therefore, discusses several aspects of case studies as a research method. The purpose of the article is to study of the case study method that can be applied in modern teaching at universities, which is aimed at formation of individual readiness for effective cross-cultural interaction and professional comtetitiveness at the global labour market. In particular, the main tasks of the ongoing study are to: firstly, single out the main features, advantages and limitations of the case study method; secondly, demonstrate by means of samples of three Business English case studies and legal case introduction that can be useful in shaping professional competencies of modern university students during the studying process. The outcomes of the ongoing research have witnessed that case study method has the strengths and weaknesses of both forms of inquiry. Weaknesses are: firstly, the case studies involve analysis of small data sets, that may lead the researcher to gain some insights about trends in relevant industries; secondly, the data is “real life” in the sense that some objects have been chosen as the source of the data, however, the studies involve “small-in” data. Strengths are: firstly, the case study method involves detailed, holistic investigation; secondly, the data can be collected over a period of time, and it is contextual.