In view of the fact that vocational education students want only the essentials of the reading curriculum, the reading center at Eastern New Mexico University (Roswell) began a program of direct vocabulary building. This method stresses application of words to be learned, making them function for the learner, as well as a high interest factor. Vocabulary was determined to be the greatest source of reading difficulty for these vocational students, although an underlying principle of the program is the assumption that not all learners need to learn the same vocabulary. The program was organized on the principle that the meaning of the unfamiliar word should be obtained through context, thus helping the student to see the relationship of the word to his or her technical interest. Of the three phases of instruction, two are not required for all students, although the technical vocabulary unit is mandatory. Phase one guides the students through chapters by means of audiotape, calling attention to unfamilar general vocabulary terms. Phase two consists of a diagnostic pretest, a vocabulary contextual teaching session, and an evaluative posttest. The third phase is designated for technical vocabulary development. Students who have used the program have developed both in vocabulary and in technical ability. (DF)