This book comprises a "set of guidelines for conversational interplay between students and their native-speaking Lao instructor." A student who successfully completes the course should be able to order a simple meal, ask for a room in a hotel, ask and give street directions, tell time, handle travel requirements, and use expressions of politeness. In addition, he should be able to discuss his work, his background, and current events. Based on Earl W. Stevick's "microwave" format (see ED 012 897), there are 85 cycles or units in this text, normally requiring from 250 to 300 class hours to complete. The term "microwave" (a very short wave) emphasizes the short span of time between presentation of new material and its actual use in real communication. In the first phase of the cycle the student learns a small amount of the language through mimicry of sounds, manipulation of structures, and by learning the meaning of the words. In the second phase he puts this material into use by forming questions and answers, giving short narrations, and completing translation and sentence completion exercises. Each cycle is an inependent unit. All Lao material is in phonemic transcription except occasional notes to the instructor. The short grammar notes in each cycle use the terminology of modern generative transformational grammar. (JD)