The state of English language instruction in Taiwan and its impact on firms doing business there are examined. The analysis draws on case studies of language training and use in four national and multinational corporations, each representing different nationalities and a different industry: Texas Instruments, Kaohsiung Monomer Company Limited, Bank of America, and Cheng-Yia International Corporation. First, English instruction in Taiwan and the major problems occurring in curriculum design, materials development, teaching methods, and teacher preparation are discussed. Second, the case study findings are presented, focusing on situations of language use and the existence of communication problems within the companies. Third, recommendations are made for language training and cross-cultural training programs to improve intercultural communication. (MSE)