Coping with the challenge from English-medium instruction (EMI): What learning strategies matter and how?

English-medium instruction (EMI) has witnessed an exponential growth in university education worldwide, especially in East Asian countries and regions in the past two decades. Previous studies have shown that students’ learning of academic content might be adversely affected due to limited English proficiency. To overcome the challenges from EMI, students’ first language is regarded as one of the resources to facilitate learning. Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is another tool which is increasingly popular yet controversial in teaching and learning. Based on the findings of a survey study conducted in a university in Hong Kong, this paper provides evidence on the effectiveness of the use of students’ first language and AI tools in helping students cope with EMI in the university. It sheds light on how universities may respond to students’ use of first language and AI in learning through English.