A study examined the effect of a job-related approach to language learning on a fossilized learner of English as a second language. The subject was a bilingual female nurse with 20 years' residence in the United States. Her oral and written output was thoroughly analyzed and her social and linguistic needs for interacting with patients and caretakers at the hospital were assessed. Based on this information, an instructional program in English focusing on specific job-related communication was developed. Results indicate that the job-related approach yielded greater interlanguage destabilization and growth toward a more American norm of English. Confounding factors found include existence of competing target languages in the work place and neighborhood, including Black English, Puerto Rican English, Philadelphia English, and standard English. (MSE)