272 Reconstructing the EMI environment: The space for Chinese in English courses in sub-degree programs in Hong Kong Bernie Chun Nam MAK Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong China Biodata Bernie MAK is a Lecturer at Hong Kong Baptist University. His research interests include bilingual education and workplace discourse analysis. He has a Ph.D. in Applied English Linguistics from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and currently teaches English for academic purposes and linguistics. He can be reached at bcnmak@staff.hkbu.edu.hk. Abstract The perception of EMI as an “English-only” approach makes Hong Kong local English teachers (LETs) have a tense relationship with the use of Chinese in post-secondary education. However, recent studies have proposed that the EMI environment is a setting where English is used as a lingua franca (ELF), not as a restricted code to replace the shared first language. This Hong-Kong-based action research aims to explore the roles of Chinese in freshman English courses where EMI is expected. One hundred sub-degree students were allocated into two groups, one given a lecture on academic writing in English only while another given the same lecture in English supplemented by Chinese. The students were asked to complete a questionnaire on their learning experience afterwards. Independent samples t-tests suggest that the latter might 1) enhance students’ understanding of academic contents, 2) create more space for students to express complicated ideas, 3) motivate them to participate more actively, and 4) help them integrate into collaborative learning. The findings were supported by interviews with the student representatives. Full University address: Room 1206, Hong Kong Baptist University Shek Mun Campus, Shatin, N.T.