Comprehension and Production of English Versus Cantonese Words in Hong Kong Undergraduates: What Do They Say About Language Choice in Education?

English has been regarded as a prestigious language in Hong Kong since the colonial era. Hong Kong students typically devote a large amount of time and resources into learning English for education and future job opportunities. But can they comprehend and use English with ease? The present study examined university students' ability to use English and Cantonese (a Chinese dialect) for comprehension and production, both of which are fundamental to effective learning in a school setting. Results showed a clear deficit when English was used, compared to Cantonese. Implications of the results for the recent debates surrounding medium of instruction in Hong Kong are discussed.