Observation of machine or production operators in a Singapore factory for insight into their need for English language skills, existing skills, and the results of a basic English language program in which many were enrolled revealed that, although the workers were generally poorly educated and had minimal English skills, they were able to decode the relatively difficult texts required to do their jobs. It is possible that this type of reading is accomplished by rote-learning rather than creative construction or the ability to use language generatively in a variety of contexts. However, within the very restricted realm of the texts in question, the language behavior is generative. This finding suggests that people can learn enough language to do tasks simply by doing the tasks repeatedly; in turn doing things that involve the use of language may be the most economical way of learning language, if not the most efficient. The appendices include a job instruction sheet and checklist of safety regulations. (MSE)