A. General Program Information
Classes are held either at Robert Frost Middle School: 9201 Scott Dr, Rockville MD 20850 on Sundays or at Hallie Wells Middle School, Clarksburg on Saturdays. Classes start from September 9th, 2023 to June 16th, 2024 (~30 classes for the academic year). The class timings vary based on the Class level (see below). Please note that registration closes on September 9th, 2023, or earlier if our capacity is reached *.
Adults - Beginner level (L1) Rockville in person: Sunday: 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm**
Adults - Intermediate Level (L2) : Rockville in person: Sunday: 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm**
Adults - Advanced Level (L3) : Sunday: 9:30 am to 11:00 pm
Adults - Advanced Level (L4) : Sunday: 11:00 am to 12:30 pm
Adults - Advanced Level (L5) : Sunday: 9:00 am to 10:30 am
Adults - Advanced Level (L6) : Sunday: 7:00 am-8:30 am
Children - All levels - Rockville in person ( age 7-13 or 1st-7th grade): 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Adults - Beginner level (L1) Clarksburg in person: Saturday: 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm**
Children- Beginner Level (BL1) Clarksburg in person: Saturday (age 7-13, or 1st-7th grade) : 4:30 pm-6:00 pm
Children- Beginner Level (BL2) Clarksburg in person: Saturday (age 7-13, or 1st-7th grade) : 3:00 pm-4:30 pm
Children- (Advanced Level, BL5). Clarksburg in person: Saturday (age 7-13, or 1st-7th grade) : 4:30-6:00 pm
Devanagari script (Samskritam/Hindi alphabets)* : TBD based on availability and demand
A2) Do I need to know any Samskritam or the Devanagari script?
Our beginner level classes focus on conversational samskritam. No prior knowledge of written or spoken samskritam or any Indian language is required, although in our experience, prior knowledge of an Indian language speeds up the learning process. For intermediate and advanced level classes, a knowledge of the Devanagari script is essential to make any progress.
A3) My child is new to the Samskritakendram. Which level will he/she be registered in?
Children are divided into different levels based on their age and prior knowledge of samskritam. The minimum age for enrolment is 7. If your child is below this age, please contact us for further enquiries. Since we have a youth program, the upper limit for the age is 13 (or rising 7th graders). Once registered, we shall contact you and inform you of the details and we shall also have a Parent-Teacher meet and OPEN house before classes begin.
A4) I am an Adult registering for the first time. What level will I be put in?
Most newcomers are registered in the beginner Level 1 class. However, exceptions are made based on prior knowledge and exposure. Please contact us at maryland@sbusa.org if you wish to discuss this further. Upon registration, and closer to when classes begin, someone will also contact you for the same.
A5) What is the Photo-Video and Release content
Samskrita Bharati is a non-profit organization primarily dedicated to popularizing Samskritam as a spoken language and inspiring children and adults to speak Samskritam.
-To that end photos and videos are sometimes taken to catalog activities conducted during the class. This helps us maintain quality of instruction and support continued teacher training. Photos or videos may also be used in the Samskrita Bharati website or publications to inspire others.
-Your agreeing will support Samskrita Bharati to spread the word of spoken Samskritam while maintaining high quality instruction.
-Through the registration you are automatically agreeing to the above.
B. Registration Details and Fees
Registration is online at https://tinyurl.com/SBMD2023. Students must submit the registration form online and pay the fees in order to complete the registration process. Students receive a confirmation email with course information once they have completed registration. Registration is open during the month of June/July/August every year. Students must begin their studies in the fall and are required to register for the whole academic year.
B2) Are there any fees and how is the payment made?
The fee structure is designed to encourage families to learn samskritam as a group. The fee structure is as follows:
For a single student registration $200. For a family registration $300.
Devanagiri script class: $50
Note: No separate fee needs to be paid for Devanagari class if you are registered for any of the Samskritam classes. 'Family' includes spouses and children only; adult siblings will be deemed as different families.
Fee for the entire year is collected upon enrollment. The payments should be made through the payment link during registration. Other forms of payment such as checks are inconvenient under the current circumstances, but if there is a problem in using the payment link, please contact us.
B3) What does the fee cover?
Please note that Samskrita Bharati conducts Samskritam classes for free. The nominal fee collected here is towards paying classroom rental to Montgomery county and in purchasing online tools and other teaching tools required for conducting the classes. The fee does not cover any books and/or supplies required for the study.
Yes. If the withdrawal is done on or before September 9, the refund would be 100% of the fees minus $50/-. For those who withdraw in the third or fourth week of classes there is a 50% refund. Please allow two weeks to get your refund processed. Please contact maryland@sbusa.org with refund requests. All withdrawals made after the fourth week are not eligible for any refund.
B5) What is the time frame for registration?
Online registration begins by June/July and ends by September 9, 2023. It might close sooner if classes reach their capacity.
B6) When does the program start? When are the classes?
The 2022-2023 academic year starts on September 9, 2023 and runs until June 16, 2024 at Robert Frost Middle School, 9201 Scott Dr, Rockville every Sunday or at Hallie Wells Middle School, 11701 Little Seneca Pkwy, Clarksburg, MD 20871, Clarksburg on Saturdays. Please Click <Calendar link>to access the course calendar.
B7) Is the student registering for the entire academic year?
Yes.
C. Teaching
C1) Who will be teaching?
Classes are taught by Samskrita Bharati-trained teachers.
C2) What is the teaching style? What do you emphasize?
Adult students in this program are taught Samskritam similar to the way young children learn their mother-tongue. The beginner level courses emphasize listening and speaking, while introducing a few grammatical topics. Intermediate and advanced level courses for adults generally require you to be able to read and write the Devanagari script. All classes are taught through the medium of Samskritam.
Children classes have a very structured program emphasizing all aspects of samskritam combined with games and songs in a highly interactive environment.
C3) What books will be used?
We have prescribed books for all levels of courses and they will be announced during the Open house or parent-teacher meeting.
For any other related questions, please contact us at https://maryland.samskritabharatiusa.org/contact-us or maryland@sbusa.org