City College of San Francisco is launching a highly anticipated Taishanese language class at its Chinatown/North Beach Center, which quickly filled all 17 spots, signaling a strong community demand for heritage language preservation and practical communication skills for San Francisco's Taishanese-speaking elders.

On the 800 block of Kearny Street, City College of San Francisco's Chinatown/North Beach Center is set to host a new language class that quickly filled its roster, revealing a robust demand for heritage language preservation in the city. The "Conversational Taishanese 101" course, a hybrid offering from CCSF's City Extension program, begins its online component on September 28, 2026, with the first in-person session at 808 Kearny Street at Washington Street, room CHNB 605, just two days later.

The class, a 12-week program with required in-person sessions on Wednesdays from 5:10 to 7:25 PM (starting September 30, with subsequent dates on October 21, November 18, and December 16), swiftly filled all 17 spots and generated a waitlist. This immediate surge in interest has led the program to consider adding a second section, according to Stephanie Chenard, interim dean for City Extension.

Taishanese, also known as Toisanese or Hoisanwa, has been a cornerstone language in San Francisco since the late 1860s, a legacy tied to waves of immigration from China's Taishan county. "This is a movement that is just getting started," said instructor Crystal Chan, a 24-year-old marketing professional, in an interview with Mission Local. Chan, who grew up near Portsmouth Square Park, naturally learned Taishanese and Cantonese but noted a historical lack of formal instruction for these languages in schools.

The class emphasizes practical conversation, covering tones, phonetics, greetings, and essential phrases for ordering food or helping elders. Joy Zhan, acting director of the San Francisco Youth Commission, highlighted the critical role Taishanese speakers play: "The grandparents who speak Taishanese, a lot of times they’re the ones who need the most help navigating all the different services." For many, proficiency in Taishanese can be a vital bridge, as city services often cover only Cantonese and Mandarin.

This new offering contrasts with past challenges CCSF has faced with Chinese language programs. A 16-unit Cantonese certificate program, despite full enrollment, was withdrawn from final approval by the college due to funding and transferability issues. The strong community response to the Taishanese class underlines a persistent need and desire within San Francisco's Chinese American community to maintain and revive ancestral languages.

Students walking into room CHNB 605 this fall will find a community space dedicated to connecting with their roots and building practical communication skills, ensuring that a language integral to San Francisco's history continues to thrive.