Mini cases design and implementation for the learning and teaching of business english

This doctoral thesis focuses on the analysis of Mini Cases, assignments that include tasks for intermediate level students which are based on simulated real-life professional situations. The main goals of this research are: 1. Explain theoretically the key concepts (English for specific purposes, Business English, Case Studies and tasks); 2. Design the Mini Cases and the questionnaire; and 3. Analyze the Mini Cases and the questionnaire. Both gather participants’ opinions, relevant for this research. Mini Cases have been applied in the subjects of English for Business and English for Social Sciences from the University of Barcelona. The research method used in this doctoral thesis is a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis: the questions of the questionnaire have been analyzed quantitatively and the Mini Cases qualitatively. From the results of the implementation of the Mini Cases, we have been able to determine their advantages and disadvantages, and we have also proposed some recommendations. We have come to the conclusion that the Mini Cases are an effective way to learn and teach Business English.