Literacy practices of one of the fastest growing ethnic minorities in the United States, Korean Americans, were explored. A two-part study of the Korean and English literacy patterns was conducted in two communities, an ethnic enclave called Midbrae and an ethnically integrated area called Hill Heights. The first part was a year-long ethnographic study of the two cities, and the second was a telephone interview study involving a sample of Korean-American adults from each community (52 from Midbrae and 30 from Hill Heights). It was concluded that literacy practices vary in the two communities. In Hill Heights, Korean Americans used English in order to participate in the society around them. In contrast, in Midbrae, adult Korean Americans had fewer opportunities to use English outside their homes and many opportunities to use Korean. When they did use English, they used it with non-native speakers. These Korean Americans may maintain their Korean literacy practices, but they are at risk of never acquiring native-like English ones. (Contains 8 tables and 33 references.) (Author/SLD)