From the beginning, a major preoccupation of the business English course described here has been to respond to students' needs concerning programs of study as well as their future professional needs. Accordingly, these principles basic to all teaching procedures were adopted: (1) the material being learned must be put into practice; (2) such practice must be done as a group; and (3) the context must be that of real situations in the business world. To implement these principles and to provide the opportunity for systematic practice in grammar and vocabulary, an active communication method was chosen and the conference language laboratory became the principal teaching tool. The technique included five phases: (1) oral and written communication of information; (2) comprehension and analysis of the vocabulary; (3) reports on the text; (4) the critical commentary; and (5) debate. The multidisciplinary characteristics of the course are evident from this teaching procedure because the content and the language of instruction are so closely linked. In addition, two advantages are evident: student motivation is reinforced and memorization is aided because the situations are based on reality. The teaching of writing follows and completes the oral component. (AMH)