Language Information for Expats Living in Hong Kong
The de-facto official dialect of Hong Kong is Cantonese, a Chinese dialect originating from the Guangdong province, spoken by 90% of the population as a first language. Mandarin, the official language of the People’s Republic of China, is also becoming increasingly common and may even one day overtake Cantonese as the main language of Hong Kong.
Although English is widely used in government bodies, the business community and in most shops and restaurants in the business district, the degree of proficiency is limited in the more local or smaller establishments. While many non-locals feel intimidated by Cantonese, it is possible to learn some basic words and phrases to converse with people on the street. People are usually pleased that you are trying to learn the language and will generally be encouraging and helpful.
If you plan to be in Hong Kong for quite a while, it is worth the effort to enroll in a course to learn to speak some simple Cantonese. You will enjoy your time in Hong Kong far more if you are able to converse with the locals in their own language, as well as making yourself more attractive to employers. The language is quite hard to learn as it incorporates 6 different tones, which means that one word can have six different meanings depending upon how you pronounce it. However, if you persist you will slowly begin to get a good grasp of the vocabulary.
Courses Available
A basic course in Cantonese typically runs between two and three months, and focuses on oral skills and listening comprehension. Courses are centered around useful vocabulary, daily expressions and sentence structure to help students communicate in a range of everyday situations.
There are a number of reputable language schools offering part-time and full-time courses, as well as private and group lessons geared towards foreigners and expatriates. Course fees range from HK$2,300-HK$5,850 depending on the size of the class, and usually include books and teaching materials.
Recommended Beginner Courses:
School |
Course / Fees |
Website |
Contact Details |
| Hong Kong Language Learning Centre | 10 x 2-hour classes HK$2,980 |
http://www.hkllc.com | 604, 6/F Emperor Group Centre 288 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai Tel: 2572 6488 |
| Hong Kong Institute of Languages | 10 x 2-hour classes HK$3,400 |
http://www.hklanguages.com/ | 6/F Wellington Plaza 56-58 Wellington St Central Tel: 2877 6160 |
| Chinese University of Hong Kong | 14 x 3-hour classes HK$5,850 |
http://www.cuhk.edu.hk | Shatin New Territories Tel: 2609 6727 |
| Chinese Language Professional | 12 x 1.5-hour classes HK$2,398 |
http://www.clprof.com | 2/F Dah Sing Life Building 99-105 Des Voeux Road Central Tel: 3165 5191 |
| Global Language Centre | Private: HK$167 – $217/hour Group: HK$110- $120/hour |
Rm 403, 4/F HK Trade Centre 161-167 Des Voeux Rd, Central Tel: 2151 2387 |
|
| EDC Languages | 20 x 2-hour classes HK$4,100 |
http://www.hkedc.com | Suite 1401, 14/F Methodist House 36 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai |
| Hong Kong Language School | From $300 per lesson | http://www.hkls.com.hk/ |
Room 1701-2 Tung Chiu Commercial Centre 193 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai Tel:3622 2558 |
Language Exchanges
There are many people in Hong Kong who are keen to learn English and are prepared to engage in language exchange meetings whereby two parties of different native languages meet on a regular basis to hone their speaking skills. Advertisements are often placed in the forums of Geoexpat.com by people who wish to teach Cantonese in exchange for learning a European language.
