It is proposed that the upper-level language curriculum include a course in commercial French-to-English translation as a means of enhancing student expertise and range of understanding in the commercial domain. Translation lends itself to curricular variety, is integrative, is flexible, and is rewarding to students. However, in commercial translation, students must find their way through a difficult "translation middle ground" in which translations are imprecise and clarity is gained only through acquisition of subject-area knowledge. The purpose of the translation course is to help students create a "translation universe," or well-defined set of parameters for specific translation needs. This universe, developed in the translation classroom, must be established in the student's native language and must take into account the student's prior knowledge of business terminology and procedures. Four techniques for creating a translation universe in the classroom are described; these techniques vary according to the level of sophistication of the translations and the student's background. All approaches require appropriate materials, which should be authentic and not lend themselves readily to analysis in the target language. The best material types are fixed-form documents and passages of a highly specialized or stylized nature. (MSE)