Saving Cantonese: A Journey from Medical School to Activism
Melissa Chow
A medical student at the University of South Florida may seem an unlikely advocate for the preservation of the Cantonese language in San Francisco. But 26-year-old Melissa Chow, who was raised in the Sunset district, has turned a passion for her family roots and a chance encounter in the medical field into a campaign that is reshaping the trajectory of cultural education.
Chow leads the “Save Cantonese” campaign to preserve City College of San Francisco’s Cantonese language program. Amid the school’s budget cuts which threatened to eliminate all Cantonese courses, Chow and fellow campaigners are fighting hard to establish a certification track for the program which they hope will ensure its long-term survival.
Chow’s Cantonese quest began during a medical practicum in San Francisco. She encountered a Cantonese-speaking patient grappling with the complexities of melanoma, a formidable skin cancer. Language barriers hindered communication, leaving the patient in silence and isolation.
Feeling sympathetic, Chow went to her parents to learn phrases in Cantonese specific to the medical setting. Unexpectedly, simple Cantonese phrases such as “the doctors are here to help you,” and “you don’t have to be afraid” connected Chow with the patient on a much deeper level, unveiling a rich history of the patient’s life that had been silenced by language constraints.
This poignant experience ignited Chow’s passion for learning Cantonese at a more advanced level. In 2020, Chow enrolled in Cantonese classes at the City College of San Francisco (CCSF), which at the time offered classes at four different levels.
As she progressed through the program, Chow witnessed a thriving community of students — young and old, professional and familial — all united by their shared desire to learn Cantonese. Many, like Chow, desired to learn the language to serve in medical settings or to communicate with senior members of their families. One student was taking the classes so he could communicate with his fiancée’s parents, Chow recalls.
Sunset childhood
Raised in San Francisco's Sunset district, Chow grew up in a multicultural household. With a father from Hong Kong and a mother from mainland China, she was surrounded by diverse influences. However, it was her connection to her paternal grandparents that set the course for her linguistic journey.
Like many early immigrants who fought their way out of poverty from southern China, Chow’s grandparents survived in San Francisco, set up a mom-and-pop shop and raised four children, all without speaking much English. Chow recalls that as her own parents often worked late hours, she spent much of her childhood years at her grandparents’ home. There, conversations in Cantonese laid the foundation for her own cultural identity.
In those years, her Cantonese proficiency was basic, limited to discussions about meals, daily necessities and the like. Yet, as she matured, her desire to delve deeper into her heritage grew stronger.
"A lot of people from my generation struggle with our identity in a way where, growing up, we are unsure about how much to lean into our Asian identity, " Chow reflected. This internal tug of war underwent a transformation as Chow unearthed her grandparents’ inspiring tale of resilience to turn the family’s life around. Such knowledge instilled within her a renewed appreciation for what she has now and who she is.
“You do come to a certain age where you realize you really are proud to be Asian and to be able to speak another language.” Melissa said.
A dire challenge for Cantonese
Yet learning to speak Cantonese in San Francisco faced a dire challenge. Budget cuts loomed over CCSF's language program. In 2021, administrators threatened to eliminate the entire Cantonese program, partly because courses that aren’t part of a certificate or degree program are not eligible for state-funding.
Chow and her classmate Julia Quon recognized the urgency of the situation, and immediately embarked on a mission to preserve the program. Their online petition swiftly garnered hundreds of signatures, setting into motion a movement that became known as "Save Cantonese.”
Drawing on their advocacy efforts, Chow and Quon rallied community leaders, alumni, and concerned citizens to voice their support during a pivotal CCSF board meeting. The momentum they generated yielded results. CCSF initially decided to preserve the Cantonese program and offer a 9-unit certification. But the struggle for a comprehensive 16-unit certification – vital for transferring students to fulfill university credit requirements – continued.
The campaign's impact extended beyond the classroom.
It reshaped Chow's perspective on community, illustrating the strength of unity among not only Sunset District residents, but also a broader Asian community who rallied behind her cause.
"We have such a strong community, and we are really able to rally together," Chow reflected. "This movement has shown me how much larger our community really is."
Chow's journey from medical school to cultural activism is a testament to the profound connections language can forge, the power of community, and the unbreakable bond between generations. As she continues to advocate for a comprehensive Cantonese program at CCSF, her story serves as a reminder that even the most unexpected journeys can lead to a lasting impact on culture, education, and the preservation of heritage.
Join Chow’s campaign to save Cantonese.
Reported and written by volunteer community journalist Sophie Heng Shao. We encourage residents with journalism experience, retired journalists, and student journalists in high school and college to volunteer as writers for Supervisor Engardio’s newsletter. Interested? Apply here. Do you know a story you would like to see featured in the newsletter? Tell us about it here.