its actually pretty free form... as i only do 1-on-1 classes currently, i cater each class to the needs and skill level of each individual. Usually, before the class, we talk about what goals you have from the class and come up with a reasonable plan of how to approach that. I try to give my clients/students as much hands on experience as possible and i pause to explain key points or correct mistakes. Classes are split into two hour chunks. For beginners, i generally recommend a 4-hour intensive, and i've had great success at getting people to be able to functionally sharpen double bevel knives within that time (i.e. good angle consistency, being able to adjust for the tip, understanding what you are trying to acheive by sharpening, what different stones do, how different angles work, what type of edge you may want for a specific task, etc.). If you would like to talk more about this or if you have any other questions, feel free to either shoot me an e-mail (jon at japaneseknifeimports dot com) or call me at the store (310)399-0300