Complex Case-Study-Based Exercises on Language Teaching

Methodologies and Learning Theories

Prepared for Advanced Study in Didactics of English Language Teaching

July 6, 2025

Instructions
This document contains 40 complex, case-study-based, multiple-choice exercises designed to
test your understanding of various language teaching methodologies and learning theories. Each
question presents a detailed classroom scenario or theoretical situation, followed by four answer
choices. Select the most appropriate answer based on the principles, syllabus design, and the-
oretical underpinnings described. The exercises are crafted to challenge critical thinking and
application of deep theoretical knowledge.
Question 1: A teacher designs a lesson where students role-play a job interview, focusing on
polite requests and responses. The teacher provides a model dialogue, students
practice in pairs, and then perform their dialogues, receiving feedback on fluency
and appropriateness. The syllabus emphasizes functional language use in real-life
contexts. Which approach is most aligned with this lesson design?
A. A syllabus prioritizing grammatical structures with controlled drills.
B. A syllabus focusing on real-world communicative functions and situational
language use.
C. A syllabus emphasizing silent observation and minimal teacher intervention.
D. A syllabus centered on content knowledge, such as literature or history.
Question 2: In a classroom, students are grouped to discuss environmental issues, using pro-
vided vocabulary and sentence starters. The teacher monitors and provides feed-
back on content and language accuracy. The lesson ends with students writing a
short essay. The curriculum focuses on achieving specific language competencies.
Which approach does this reflect?
A. An approach where students learn through repetitive drills and mimicry.
B. An approach where specific language skills are targeted and assessed.
C. An approach using music and relaxation to enhance learning.
D. An approach where students learn through physical actions responding to
commands.
Question 3: A teacher presents a text about cultural festivals, followed by comprehension ques-
tions. Students then complete a task designing a festival poster in groups, inte-
grating new vocabulary. The syllabus is organized around thematic units. Which
approach best describes this lesson?
A. A method where students translate texts to learn grammar.
B. A method where thematic content drives language learning.

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C. A method where students respond physically to teacher commands.
D. A method where students learn through silent observation and self-correction.
E. A teacher uses a low-anxiety environment, encouraging students to listen
to authentic dialogues before attempting to speak. The syllabus prioritizes
comprehensible input and natural acquisition. Which approach is this aligned
with?
A. An approach using grammar drills and translation exercises.
B. An approach emphasizing natural acquisition through comprehensible
input.
C. An approach using role-plays and group discussions for fluency.
D. An approach requiring students to mimic teacher pronunciation.
E. A teacher assigns a project where students create a travel brochure, inte-
grating grammar, vocabulary, and cultural knowledge. The curriculum
specifies performance standards for each skill. Which approach is evi-
dent here?
A. An approach focusing on grammatical accuracy through translation.
B. An approach where students meet predefined performance stan-
dards.
C. An approach using physical responses to language input.
D. An approach emphasizing silent teacher guidance.
E. Students are asked to memorize and repeat dialogues about daily
routines, with the teacher correcting pronunciation errors imme-
diately. The syllabus is structured around grammatical patterns.
Which approach does this reflect?
F. A method prioritizing authentic communication and fluency.
G. A method using repetitive drills to instill language habits.
H. A method encouraging creative writing and self-expression.
I. A method focusing on content-based thematic units.
J. In a lesson, the teacher remains silent, using colored rods to teach
vocabulary and grammar, encouraging students to self-correct. The
syllabus emphasizes learner autonomy. Which approach is this?
K. An approach using music and relaxation techniques.
L. An approach with minimal teacher talk and student self-correction.
M. An approach focusing on functional language in real-world contexts.
N. An approach using drills and pattern practice.
O. A teacher uses immersive role-plays without explicit grammar in-
struction, focusing on natural language use in a market scenario.
The syllabus prioritizes oral proficiency. Which approach is most
aligned?

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P. An approach emphasizing translation and grammar analysis.
Q. An approach immersing students in natural language use without
explicit grammar.
R. An approach using physical responses to commands.
S. An approach with structured grammar drills.
T. A classroom uses music and a relaxed atmosphere, with students
repeating affirmations and dialogues in a rhythmic manner. The
syllabus focuses on positive emotional states. Which approach does
this reflect?
U. An approach using silent teacher guidance and colored rods.
V. An approach integrating music and relaxation to enhance learning.
W. An approach focusing on grammatical structures and translation.
X. An approach emphasizing task completion and group work.
Y. Students respond to commands like “Stand up” or “Point to the
door” with physical actions. The syllabus emphasizes listening com-
prehension and physical response. Which approach is this?
Z. An approach focusing on grammar translation.
. An approach using physical actions to reinforce language input.
. An approach prioritizing group discussions and fluency.
. An approach using silent observation and self-correction.
. A teacher rewards students for correct responses with praise, rein-
forcing desired language behaviors. The syllabus emphasizes habit
formation through repetition. Which learning theory underpins this
practice?
. A theory focusing on mental processes and problem-solving.
. A theory emphasizing external stimuli and response reinforcement.
. A theory prioritizing social interaction and collaboration.
. A theory focusing on personal growth and self-actualization.
. A lesson involves students analyzing a text’s structure, hypothesizing
grammar rules, and applying them in writing. The syllabus empha-
sizes cognitive engagement. Which theory supports this approach?
. A theory focusing on habit formation through repetition.
. A theory emphasizing mental processes and active learning.
. A theory prioritizing social negotiation of meaning.
. A theory focusing on emotional well-being and motivation.
. Students work in groups to create a podcast, negotiating meaning
and correcting each other’s language use. The syllabus emphasizes
collaborative learning. Which theory is most aligned?

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. A theory focusing on individual mental processes.
. A theory emphasizing social interaction and collaborative learning.
. A theory prioritizing external rewards for correct responses.
. A theory focusing on grammar memorization.
. A teacher encourages students to reflect on their learning goals and
express personal interests in their writing tasks. The syllabus pri-
oritizes learner autonomy and motivation. Which theory supports
this?
. A theory focusing on external reinforcement of behaviors.
. A theory emphasizing personal growth and self-actualization.
. A theory prioritizing social collaboration.
. A theory focusing on cognitive rule formation.
. Students build knowledge by discussing a text in groups, integrating
prior knowledge with new information. The syllabus emphasizes
learner-driven knowledge construction. Which theory is this?
. A theory focusing on stimulus-response conditioning.
. A theory emphasizing active construction of knowledge.
. A theory prioritizing silent observation.
. A theory focusing on grammar drills.
. A teacher designs a lesson where students debate a social issue, using
provided phrases and grammar structures. The syllabus focuses on
functional language in communicative contexts. Which approach is
this?
. An approach using translation and grammar exercises.
. An approach emphasizing real-world language functions.
. An approach using physical responses to commands.
. An approach with silent teacher guidance.
. A lesson involves students completing a group project on cultural
traditions, with clear competency goals for vocabulary and writing.
The curriculum specifies skill-based outcomes. Which approach is
evident?
. An approach focusing on grammatical accuracy.
. An approach targeting specific language competencies.
. An approach using music and relaxation.
. An approach emphasizing physical responses.
. Students read a science article and answer questions, integrating
new vocabulary into a presentation. The syllabus is organized around
thematic content. Which approach does this reflect?

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. An approach using grammar translation.
. An approach centered on thematic content.
. An approach with physical responses to commands.
. An approach emphasizing silent correction.
. A teacher provides authentic listening materials and encourages stu-
dents to speak only when ready, creating a low-anxiety environ-
ment. The syllabus prioritizes natural acquisition. Which approach
is this?
. An approach using drills and repetition.
. An approach emphasizing comprehensible input.
. An approach focusing on group tasks.
. An approach using translation exercises.
. A lesson requires students to meet specific performance standards,
such as writing a formal email with correct grammar and tone. The
curriculum outlines clear benchmarks. Which approach is this?
. An approach focusing on physical responses.
. An approach with predefined performance standards.
. An approach using music and relaxation.
. An approach emphasizing silent observation.
. Students memorize and recite dialogues, with the teacher correcting
errors immediately. The syllabus focuses on grammatical accuracy.
Which approach does this reflect?
. An approach prioritizing fluency and communication.
. An approach using repetitive drills for habit formation.
. An approach encouraging creative expression.
. An approach focusing on thematic content.
. A teacher uses colored charts and minimal speech to teach pronunci-
ation, encouraging students to self-correct. The syllabus emphasizes
learner autonomy. Which approach is this?
. An approach using music and relaxation.
. An approach with minimal teacher intervention.
. An approach focusing on functional language.
. An approach using grammar drills.
. A lesson involves immersive role-plays in a restaurant setting, with
no explicit grammar instruction. The syllabus prioritizes oral flu-
ency. Which approach is most aligned?
. An approach emphasizing grammar analysis.

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. An approach using natural language immersion.
. An approach with physical responses.
. An approach using structured drills.
. A classroom uses rhythmic dialogues and a relaxed setting, with
students repeating after the teacher. The syllabus emphasizes emo-
tional engagement. Which approach does this reflect?
. An approach using silent guidance.
. An approach integrating music and relaxation.
. An approach focusing on grammar translation.
. An approach emphasizing group tasks.
. Students respond to commands like “Touch the table” with physical
actions. The syllabus emphasizes listening and physical response.
Which approach is this?
. An approach focusing on translation.
. An approach using physical actions for language input.
. An approach prioritizing group discussions.
. An approach using silent observation.
. A teacher uses rewards to encourage correct grammar usage, rein-
forcing desired behaviors. The syllabus emphasizes habit formation.
Which learning theory supports this?
. A theory focusing on mental processes.
. A theory emphasizing external reinforcement.
. A theory prioritizing social collaboration.
. A theory focusing on self-actualization.
. Students analyze a text’s grammar and hypothesize rules, applying
them in a writing task. The syllabus emphasizes cognitive engage-
ment. Which theory is this?
. A theory focusing on habit formation.
. A theory emphasizing active mental processes.
. A theory prioritizing social interaction.
. A theory focusing on emotional well-being.
. Students collaborate on a group presentation, correcting each other’s
language use. The syllabus emphasizes collaborative learning. Which
theory supports this?
. A theory focusing on individual cognition.
. A theory emphasizing social collaboration.
. A theory prioritizing external rewards.

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. A theory focusing on grammar memorization.
. A teacher encourages students to set personal language goals and
reflect on their progress. The syllabus prioritizes learner motivation.
Which theory is this?
. A theory focusing on external reinforcement.
. A theory emphasizing personal growth.
. A theory prioritizing social collaboration.
. A theory focusing on cognitive rules.
. Students construct knowledge by integrating new vocabulary into a
group discussion. The syllabus emphasizes learner-driven learning.
Which theory is this?
. A theory focusing on stimulus-response.
. A theory emphasizing knowledge construction.
. A theory prioritizing silent observation.
. A theory focusing on grammar drills.
. A lesson involves students completing a task to create a dialogue
for a travel agency, using specific phrases. The syllabus focuses on
functional language. Which approach is this?
. An approach using grammar translation.
. An approach emphasizing communicative functions.
. An approach with physical responses.
. An approach using silent guidance.
. Students work on a project to create a cultural guide, meeting spe-
cific language competencies. The curriculum outlines skill-based
goals. Which approach is this?
. An approach focusing on grammatical accuracy.
. An approach targeting specific competencies.
. An approach using music and relaxation.
. An approach emphasizing physical responses.
. A lesson integrates a history text to teach vocabulary and grammar,
with students presenting findings. The syllabus is thematic. Which
approach does this reflect?
. An approach using grammar translation.
. An approach centered on thematic content.
. An approach with physical responses.
. An approach emphasizing silent correction.
. A teacher provides authentic materials and encourages delayed pro-

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 duction in a low-anxiety setting. The syllabus prioritizes natural
acquisition. Which approach is this?
. An approach using drills and repetition.
. An approach emphasizing comprehensible input.
. An approach focusing on group tasks.
. An approach using translation exercises.
. Students write a formal letter meeting specific performance criteria,
such as tone and structure. The curriculum outlines benchmarks.
Which approach is this?
. An approach focusing on physical responses.
. An approach with predefined performance standards.
. An approach using music and relaxation.
. An approach emphasizing silent observation.
. Students memorize dialogues and repeat them, with immediate teacher
correction. The syllabus focuses on grammatical accuracy. Which
approach does this reflect?
. An approach prioritizing fluency.
. An approach using repetitive drills.
. An approach encouraging creative expression.
. An approach focusing on thematic content.
. A teacher uses minimal speech and visual aids to teach grammar,
encouraging self-correction. The syllabus emphasizes autonomy.
Which approach is this?
. An approach using music and relaxation.
. An approach with minimal teacher intervention.
. An approach focusing on functional language.
. An approach using grammar drills.
. A lesson involves immersive role-plays in a workplace setting, with
no explicit grammar focus. The syllabus prioritizes oral fluency.
Which approach is this?
. An approach emphasizing grammar analysis.
. An approach using natural language immersion.
. An approach with physical responses.
. An approach using structured drills.
. A classroom uses rhythmic dialogues and a relaxed atmosphere, with
students repeating after the teacher. The syllabus emphasizes emo-
tional engagement. Which approach does this reflect?

8
. An approach using silent guidance.
. An approach integrating music and relaxation.
. An approach focusing on grammar translation.
. An approach emphasizing group tasks.
. Students respond to commands like “Open the book” with physical
actions. The syllabus emphasizes listening comprehension. Which
approach is this?
. An approach focusing on translation.
. An approach using physical actions for input.
. An approach prioritizing group discussions.
. An approach using silent observation.