Transcending Linguistic Boundaries at Work: Latino and Korean Immigrants in Koreatown, NYC

Korean words (left) and their Spanish translation (right) written by Jose, 25, Mexican immigrant worker in Koreatown.
Photo courtesy Karen Velasquez
Fascinating blog post about Latino immigrants settling in ethnically diverse Queens County, New York City, where an estimated 138 languages are spoken. Many of these Latinos find work in Korean businesses and form “mutually beneficial relationships that allow immigrants to succeed in the US despite certain challenges, such as having undocumented status”. The success of these relationships hinges on language…
by Karen Velasquez, an anthropology and education PhD student at Teachers College Columbia University and adjunct professor of cultural anthropology at Fordham University. She is currently conducting dissertation research on workplace education and language learning among Latino and Korean immigrants in Koreatown, NYC.
published in Anthropology News
Click on the title to read the full blog post.