SITUATIONAL PROBLEM-SOLVING thru English

In every situational issue, understanding how you will respond to a situational question is an important aspect of developing your critical thinking and decision-making skills. This lesson discusses how to determine the importance of situational responses.

“Situational analysis” helps develop a basis of understanding of the environment in which a plan is delivered. It provides a common reference point for the planning process and priorities actions.

1. After basketball practice you go back to the locker room with your team to shower and change. When you are done dressing, you can't find your shoes. What could you do?

2. There is a guy in your class who is always mean to you. He always bumps you when he walks by and he calls you names. He knocks stuff out of your hands and makes you feel stupid. You don't think you can take it anymore. What could you do?

3. You wake up and see that your alarm never went off. So you are starting your morning 15 minutes later than you planned. It is a really important day at school and you cannot be late. What could you do?

4. You are giving a group presentation in front of the class and it's your turn to talk. All of a sudden you sneeze. You cover it with your hand, but now your hand is full of stuff you sneezed out. What could you do?

5. You are eating dinner at a fancy restaurant with your parents and their friends. You have a really messy dinner and accidentally flip a noodle into the lady's lap. They are busy talking and don't notice it. What could you do?

6. You are taking a test and the guy behind you asks you for help. He wants to know what you put for question number two. What could you do?

7. You are hanging outside with your friend and she decides to pick your neighbor's flowers. She gives you the pretty handful of flowers and right then your neighbor opens the door. She asks you why you picked her flowers. What could you do?

8. You borrowed your sister's skates one day without asking and they broke while you were using them. What could you do?

9. You are eating at a friend's house and the mom piles your plate full of food. It looks really good and you want to eat it all but you can't because you just ate a snack. What could you do so you don't hurt her feelings?

10. Your teacher was working at her desk. You wanted to ask her a question, but she didn't see your hand raised. What should you do?

11. You started to do your work, but you weren't sure if you were doing it right. What should you do?

12. You were playing tetherball and were the champion so far. In the next game, you slightly touched the rope. Only one student saw you touch the rope. What will you do?

13. A bully threatened to beat you up after school. What should you do?

14. A boy on the playground keeps pushing you and making you mad. What would you do?

15. You are working on a project and halfway through you realize that you have made a significant mistake that may require you to restart the project to resolve it. How would you approach this so you still met the deadline?

16. How would you deal with a customer who wasn't happy with your service, even though you haven't done anything wrong and it is the customer who has made the mistake?

17. What would you do if you were asked to perform a task you’ve never done before?

18. What would you do if an angry and dissatisfied customer confronted you? How would you resolve their concern?

19. You are a first-year college student. Three weeks into the semester your family informs you that they have decided to take a trip to Europe and would like you to attend. Unfortunately, you do not have the time off from school, and by missing a whole week of classes your grades will be at risk. What should you do?

20. It is Friday and you have a midterm exam on Wednesday. You just found out you have been scheduled to work all weekend and you have class all day Monday and Tuesday. If you do not work this weekend, you risk the chance of getting fired, and you are in need of this job. This is leaving you very little time to study. What should you do?

21. Tom is responsible for giving a bonus to factory workers that have perfect attendance during the month. One worker missed one day due to a death in the family. The worker starts crying in Tom’s office and tells Tom that she needs the bonus desperately since she is behind on her rent. The rules are clear and the bonus is for perfect attendance period no if, buts, or maybes. However, Tom does have the authority to make exceptions to the rule. What should Tom do?

22. Sonya is a new nurse’s aide. Most of Sonya’s coworkers are Filipina. The Filipinas are fluent in English, but choose to speak their native language which Sonya does not understand. Sonya feels this is rude and this practice makes her feel like an outsider. What should Sonya do?