Frequently Asked Questions

Our lessons are suitable if you are deaf or hard of hearing or are a family member or supporter who would like to improve communication. The lessons are suitable for complete beginners with no previous lipreading experience, as well as those who have attended lipreading classes before. The lessons are taught using spoken English and are NOT suitable for people who require a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter. If you're unsure whether the lessons are right for you, please get in touch and we'll be happy to help.

Enabling deaf and hard of hearing people to build a supportive community is the core ethos of learn-to-lipread.co.uk. We organise classes by local area so you can build a community with people who are relatively nearby, laying the foundation for real friendships and a strong local support network.

If you book a course there will be one meetup a term with other local online learners. So you'll be learning from the comfort of home, and making real connections at the same time.

Each term there will be a meetup at a venue organised by your teacher. You'll meet your classmates, have a cup of tea on us, and practise your lipreading in a real setting using guidance notes from your teacher. It's a chance to put the online sessions into practice somewhere real, with people who understand.

We plan meetups when it's quieter as it's better for lipreading, and no one is trying to find a venue in the dark!

If you prefer not to attend meetups, or you cannot make the date, you can choose to attend a different scheduled meetup, meet independently with your classmates, or not meet at all. It is up to you! The meetup date will be provided on the booking page.

We are a growing community and we are starting out. So at first, people in your class may be countywide, not truly local. But do not give up. Instead, spread the word. If your chosen time slot is still filling up, you can join the waitlist, and we will notify you the moment 6 people sign up! You are also welcome to join a class in a nearby region if they have space available.

Yes. Please join us on facebook and log your favourite deaf-friendly venues on Learn to Lipread Community.

All our lipreading lessons are fully online and highly interactive. Once a term will be an organised in-person meetup at a venue in your region.

You'll be taught in small classes of up to 10 students, to properly accommodate your needs. This setup provides excellent accessibility, giving you clear audio and a direct view of everyone's lips. Before each lesson you'll receive an email with a Zoom link to log on along with instructions of how to do this.

We will learn lipreading theory and practice, plus lots of brain exercise in areas like memory, mental linking and concentration, plus support to manage your hearing loss.

Not necessarily. Everyone is different. Please read this IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Attending lessons does not mean your lipreading skills will improve. This is because lipreading uses multiple skills. It's partly about looking at the lips but also about improving your concentration, looking at body language and managing your hearing loss, and being assertive. Therefore attending a course does not mean you will see noticeable improvement. Each person is individual. For some people it happens quickly, for some it takes years and for some it never happens, but they come along to the courses to make connections to others.).

We understand that life gets busy! If you miss a lesson, you can easily join another class session running during the same week so you stay right on track.

Go to "Find Your Class" page. Just select your local region, choose a day and time that suits you. Click "Reserve My Place" to secure your spot through our safe checkout.

Absolutely! We regularly offer Free Taster Sessions.

Once you've enrolled you will receive a welcome email confirming your booking. A day before the class you'll receive an email with a Zoom link. You are encouraged to communicate with the tutor in advance if you need any extra support or you have any questions. At the time of the class simply click on the Zoom link and you will join the class.

It's really important to us that you get help in our classes. So a qualified teacher takes time and care to plan each lesson, along with scaffolding and extensions, so students get the most out of each class. Some other subjects taught online may have prerecorded lessons or have one lesson planned for 500 people.

You enjoy a 2-week cooling-off period after booking, during which you can request a full refund if you change your mind. After this period, while we don't offer standard refunds, our teachers are very happy to transfer your enrollment to another available course if your circumstances change.

While we don't provide partial refunds for missed lessons, you will always have access to the class materials online. Your teacher will also gladly help you join another class during the same week whenever space is available.