Exploring the teaching challenges and pedagogical strategies of teachers in English-medium instruction in online modalities: A case study of STEM teachers in Hong Kong universities

Students are experiencing English medium instruction (EMI) in various learning modes. Gone are the days of exclusive in-person learning environments. Now, students could be learning in person, synchronously or asynchronously online, or a combination of different modes (e.g., hybrid or hyflex). This creates challenges for teachers and students as they need to navigate content learning and EMI. In this chapter, we discuss the teaching challenges and pedagogical strategies of teachers in EMI in online modalities. Six STEM teachers were interviewed to discuss their teaching practices and pedagogical strategies and innovations adopted during the period of online teaching. We report how these teachers adapted and utilized technology to support the continuation of student learning while providing an initial conceptualization of the professional competencies STEM teachers need to teach online in EMI contexts. By providing an evidence-base, this research shed light on ways for improving the quality of instructional practices and the professional needs of teachers in digitally-integrated EMI classrooms worldwide. © 2025 selection and editorial matter, Xuyan Qiu and Rui Yuan; individual chapters, the contributors.