Each class meets once a week, for a 2-hour class, for an 8-week session. We offer classes meeting on different days of the week, and via different formats (in-person and online) to best fit people’s schedules and needs. You would only attend once a week, in the class you registered for.

All times listed are in Eastern Time.

We are unable to accommodate students joining a different class than the one they’re registered for. For example, if you are registered for the Monday class and have a conflict come up, you would not be able to join the Wednesday class for a given week; or, if you’re signed up for in-person classes, you would not be able to join the online class instead for a given week.

While we understand that things come up, there are several reasons we are unable to accommodate this variance. Often classes get full, so it’s very possible that the class you’re hoping to join does not have additional spots available. Additionally, while the overall curriculum is the same for all classes of a given level, sometimes student questions or instructor approach means that classes may not be in sync at a given time.

If you registered for one class but are looking to permanently switch your registration to another class, please email classes@csdhh.org.

For online classes: if a student loses power, try your best to rejoin when you’re able! Your teacher will share materials, and you’re always welcome to join the Study Hall to catch up. If an instructor loses power, we’ll try our best to resume classes ASAP at the same Zoom link, otherwise we’ll try to coordinate a way to make up that class.

For in-person classes: We will reach out to students ASAP if it looks like impending inclement weather may cancel classes. If you’re ever unsure, please feel free to reach out to the office. If classes are cancelled, we’ll try to coordinate a way to make up that class.

If you have to miss a class or two, you should be able to catch-up with little issue; your teacher will share materials, the first part of the next class will review previous material, and you’re welcome to join the weekly Study Hall.

If you have a permanent change that means you’re unable to continue in classes, full refunds may be issued for cancellations at least 5 business days prior to the first day of class. Of course, we are always happy to defer that session’s registration to a future session of classes.

We offer 4 sessions of classes each year, each being 8 weeks long: winter (typically January-March), spring (typically March/April-May), summer (typically June/July-August), and fall (typically September/October-November).

If you would like us to email you as soon as registration for the next session of class opens up, fill out the interest list form at the bottom of the main classes page.

Select which format you’re interested in from the bottom of the main classes page, then click the button at the bottom of that page to register.

If no class registration is currently open, the main classes page will have a button for you to fill out an interest list form to be emailed as soon as registration opens up.

Immediately after registering, you’ll get a confirmation email that we received your order. Then, within a few days, you’ll get a second email signifying we’ve seen it and added you to the roster. If you don’t receive either of these emails, first check your spam, junk, promotions, updates, etc. folders. These emails are generated through our Squarespace website, and sometimes get flagged by email providers and do not hit your main inbox. We’ll also follow-up with a separate email (from us directly - either classes@csdhh.org or info@csdhh.org) about a week before classes start. If you don’t receive any of those emails and don’t see them in any of the folders listed above, feel free to reach out to us.

If classes do not reach the registration minimum required, we will email or call students to inform you of the cancellation and discuss next steps - such as deferring to a different session or issuing a refund.

All registrations are processed through our website, and therefore are electronic payments via debit card, credit card, or mobile payment (such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.). We are unable to accept cash payments. Please email us with any specific questions.

As space in our classes is limited, all participants in classes must be registered students; we are unable to have unregistered guests attend classes. If you have specific questions about accommodations, see below or contact us!

Our classes should not be thought of as training for professionals using ASL as a core part of their job (such as interpreters, teachers of the Deaf, etc.), and do not provide any CEUs or credits.

We do provide students with a certificate of completion at the end of classes, documenting their attendance to the specific class.

On the registration form, there is a field where you can enter any specific accommodations requested for our classes. As every situation is different, we’re always happy to talk about how our classes are set up and structured, and discuss students’ accommodations and how we can best meet your needs! Feel free to email us or call the office - 336-275-8878 ext. 6.

No, our classes are designed as an introduction to ASL and Deaf culture, giving people basic vocabulary and skills for social conversation in low-stakes community settings.

Our classes can be a great stepping stone towards more advanced classes at a college or university designed to train interpreters or other professionals. We encourage anyone with a strong interest to review this page detailing the requirements and process for working as an interpreter in NC, and email us with any specific questions.

Our classes are open to anyone who is interested in learning sign language. The majority of our students are simply interested in learning and do not have hearing loss. However, we often do serve students with hearing loss who are looking to use sign language as a primary communication method.

If you are someone with hearing loss and are looking for resources or want to talk more about classes, please email us.

No, our classes are designed for adult students. Younger learners benefit from a different approach, pace, and class duration than adults, and our classes are not designed with those specific needs in mind.

Students age 12-15 are able to register for our classes with explicit parent/guardian acknowledgement and permission, collected via completion of our Special Registration Form. Email us to request this form or with any other questions. Additionally, for in-person classes, students age 12-15 are required to attend class with an adult who is also a registered student in class.

The content for each level is outlined on the main class page. Ultimately we leave the decision of which level to register for to students, as you know best what you already know and feel comfortable with.

If you’re unsure, feel free to email us and let us know any background experience or knowledge you have and we can help you decide which level would fit best!

Short answer - sure, if you’d like.

Our classes are designed so that each level builds on the previous - we envision students taking Level 1, then Level 2, then Level 3. However, if you’ve had to miss a class, if you’ve skipped a session or more since taking a previous class, or if you’d simply feel more comfortable taking a class you’ve already taken, we don’t impose barriers or prevent students from doing so.

Every week, we host an optional, free Study Hall meeting for any student looking for extra support - this is a benefit you get as a student of our classes! Perhaps you’ve missed a class and want to review that content, you have questions outside the purview of the class, you want more practice or review to really cement what you’re learning, or you want a place to arrange to meet up with your classmates for extra practice with each other - or for any other reason! - Study Hall is a great resource.

In-person class students will have the opportunity for a once-a-week in-person Study Hall at our office. We’ll share details at the beginning of the class session. Online students will have the opportunity to join a Study Hall Zoom meeting each Tuesday, from 6:00pm-8:00pm. We will generally focus on Level 1 content from 6:00pm-6:40pm, Level 2 content from 6:40pm-7:20pm, and Level 3 content from 7:20pm-8:00pm. However, anyone is welcome to join any time during the call, whether you want to sit in on another level’s review or want to practice with your classmates in a breakout room while the focus in the main call isn’t on your Level.

Students do not need to plan to purchase any books or materials, nor are you expected to solicit your own online resources outside of class. Your instructor will have materials they use in class, and may have online resources they’ll direct you to for specific activities or lessons. We don’t want you to feel obligated to buy or bring anything else!

If you are interested in additional outside resources, such as books or websites we recommend, feel free to ask your instructor or email us and we’d be happy to make some suggestions.

• There are strong concerns in the broader Deaf and ASL community regarding instances of hearing people making errors when teaching ASL, modeling incorrect signs, and propagating misconceptions about ASL and the Deaf world. Additionally, in these cases, opportunities are taken from Deaf folks, who experience unemployment and underemployment at a higher rate than hearing people. These are serious, urgent concerns.

• We work with both Deaf and hearing instructors for our ASL classes. All of our ASL class instructors are highly qualified and active in the local Deaf community. Our standards for qualification take into account status as a native user of ASL, formal training, years of experience, and professional focus. Our instructors thoroughly incorporate Deaf-created resources and perspectives to ensure culturally appropriate learning for students.

• All of our classes are Deaf-focused, encouraging students to attend local Deaf events, build authentic relationships with the Deaf community, and seek out and properly vet external resources to ensure reliability. Further, we invite Deaf guests to each of our classes, to share with students about their backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, and to help students learn about the Deaf world.

• Opportunities for Deaf instructors to work with CSDHH are not limited by the current instructors we work with; we are always seeking additional qualified instructors. Our classes consistently have far, far more student demand and interest than our current instructors and classes can serve. Please reach out if you are interested in teaching with us!

• We are deeply concerned by the occurrence of poor-quality ASL education and the systemic barriers to employment for Deaf individuals. We ensure our students have an accurate, thorough, and beneficial education, and are always seeking more opportunities to work with Deaf instructors. Let us know if you are interested in working with us, and if you have thoughts, suggestions, or questions about our classes!

We recommend following WHO, CDC, and NC DHHS guidelines regarding vaccinations, and encourage all students planning to attend classes in person to be up-to-date on vaccinations and boosters. We are not currently requiring students be vaccinated to attend in-person classes.

Our instructor will plan to not wear a mask during class, to ensure that students are able to see all of the non-manual signals and facial grammar present in ASL. It us up to each student whether they choose to wear a mask or not.

For full information regarding policies and procedures for in-person classes during COVID, please review this document.

Do not plan to attend class if you have symptoms of COVID, have had a recent positive test result, or have been exposed to someone with COVID.

For full information regarding policies and procedures for in-person classes during COVID, please review this document.

Our in-person classes have been on hold since March 2020, and as we slowly return to in-person classes, we are doing so at a pace to balance instructor availability, student demand, and our ability to ensure classes are the best balance of safety of instructors and students and a quality learning environment.

We are actively working to increase capacity and offerings for in-person classes. The schedule will build over time starting with lower level classes and expand to higher levels and on different days of the week. If you have further questions or suggestions, please email us.

As much like our in-person classes as possible. Students and the instructor will join a video call at the same time, with videos on, and be able to see everyone on screen. The instructor will teach the content, sometimes sharing material such as presentation slides or online resources, will lead activities such as partner work and group practice, etc.

See the guidelines and skills listed here. Briefly, students need to plan to use a laptop/desktop computer with a good webcam, strong internet, in a well-lit environment. Students should download the Zoom app (but do not need to make an account).

As sign language is a visual language, classes require you to see your instructor and the other students. The Zoom app on mobile devices limits the number of video feeds you can see at once - 4 on phones, 9 on tablets. Additionally, the mobile app - as well as joining from a web browser and on a Chromebook - mean you’ll have limited controls and features, and likely won’t be able to fully participate in activities.

If you have specific concerns or need help troubleshooting any technology needs, feel free to email us at classes@csdhh.org.

First - each student participating in class must be registered individually for classes.

We also recommend that if at all possible, students be on their own computer for classes, even if you’re in the same house. This will allow each student to participate in group activities individually, will ensure they are large enough on screen for the instructor and other students to see their signing (instead of being half-sized on a shared screen), and also will ensure the appropriate number of students participating in class is kept at an optimal level.

We are unable to record classes. Aside from the logistical factors involved (including managing, sharing, and controlling access to the recorded file, as well as students’ comfort and willingness to be recorded for class), students benefit from the live, interactive activities and conversation in class, which a recording cannot replicate.

However, should you miss a class, or just want additional review, there are several options: your teacher will share materials with you that you can review outside of class, there will be a review each class of previous materials, and you can join the optional weekly Study Hall session.