Based on experiences gained by an educator from Indiana University who taught a speech communication course in Saudi Arabia, this paper details the adaptations the educator had to make in order to teach Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO) employees and their spouses in the politically difficult period of 1981-82. Following a brief background sketch of ARAMCO and the diverse population enrolled in the class, the paper discusses the cultural context of the class, specifically the influence of the Islamic religion. The paper next reviews the adaptations in textbook material necessitated by cultural demands, and the difficulties involved in conducting classroom critiques of student performances. This is followed by discussions of cultural differences in thought processes, speaker credibility, speaker style and delivery, and ideas of censorship. The paper concludes with a brief review of the events that have taken place in Saudi Arabia since 1982. (FL)