One teacher's experience in providing individualized instruction in English to a manager in the German coal mining industry is reported. The highly motivated manager required specialized skills in English for communicating with foreign visitors who were either members of the industry or lay people. The manager brought with him to the first meeting the materials he used to keep current with his field and with his English language skills. The process of individualizing instruction for the manager involved conversation and a visit to the mine to determine his specific language skill needs as well as continual development of assignments using industry-specific publications. Problems encountered in the process included the need for the teacher to understand and verify highly specialized vocabulary and structures, inconsistencies in industry-related publications, difficulties in translation from specialized literature, and the need to fine tune language use for public presentation. Development of grammar and vocabulary were emphasized, with the primary focus on fluid communication. The experience underscored the need to identify and target very specific language needs. (MSE)