After almost two decades, Chinese class no longer offered at CHS

Published May 6th, 2026

By GRACE GRAHL

After 19 years, the Chinese program, which has promoted culture-based curriculum, immersive language experiences and close-knit student connections, will no longer be offered at Carmel High School starting in the 2026-27 school year. 

Joyce Liu, the only teacher within the Chinese program at CHS since 2007, has taught the same students since sixth grade, all the way up until Honors Chinese 4, a commitment that has proven difficult for some students. 

“The only way I get students is from the entering seventh graders in middle school,” Liu explains. “For high school students, unless they pass the placement test, we only get students for levels 3 and 4 in high school.”

The rigor of Chinese 3 and Honors 4 is also due to the lack of common cognates to supplement students’ understanding, as the language uses a different writing system of characters, pronunciation system and characters in place of alphabetic words. 

Over 19 years, the Chinese program has taken trips to China, San Francisco’s Chinatown and local Chinese restaurants, made possible by its small class sizes.

“I have so many great memories,” Liu says. “The program is like my family because the kids stay with me for three or four years. I’m just so grateful for this supportive community.”