This paper advocates flexibility in the use of textbooks and materials for teaching languages for specific purposes. Language and communication instructors are encouraged to adopt a positive approach in drawing the relevant aspects out of textbooks and printed materials and linking them to the interactive features in the business and professional world. It is suggested that, in this way, an effective link from the base to the action can be built and communicative competence in learners can be prompted. Individual sections address the following topics: real world communication--interactive performance; the nature of real-world interactions; real-world communication tasks; an approach to textbooks and published materials; materials evaluation; use of textbook materials; adapting textbook materials; illustrations of materials adaptation; and the role of language instructors. (JL)