Online Tibetan Language Program

LRZTP has created an online part-time Tibetan language program to give you the opportunity to study Tibetan from the comfort of your home. 

The Foundations in Tibetan Language Program progressively covers the essentials of the spoken and written language over a period of three years, and then there is a fourth and final year of advanced studies which focuses on Dharma Tibetan. For this program we welcome students with diverse backgrounds and commitment to the language. Prospective students might be those who already study Tibetan Buddhism, those who wish to communicate directly with their rinpoche or geshe, those interested in Tibetan culture and in communicating with Tibetans in their native language, and/or life-time learners seeking personal growth. Students are welcome to join a full year’s program of study for each level or to take modules individually without committing the full study program. 

The online program may also be joined as preparation for LRZTP’s two-year intensive Tibetan language and interpretation program, and we encourage those who intend to do the program and have little or no experience with the language to do so. 

At LRZTP, besides studying the Tibetan language on an intellectual level, we have the aspiration to implement the advice of His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama in regards to educating the heart.

The Tibetan language is an integral part of a culture that has at its core the practices of compassion and wisdom. We encourage the students to engage in the study with an altruistic motivation. This will help us to be supportive of each other during class time, to find understanding and tolerance for our differences, and to practice gratitude for all the learning opportunities we receive. 

Overview of the four-year program:

Foundations in Tibetan Language – Elementary Level: Modules 1 – 5 (Dates: 3/2021 – 3/2022)
Foundations in Tibetan Language – Intermediate Level: Modules 1 – 5 (Dates: 3/2022 – 3/2023)
Foundations in Tibetan Language – Advanced Level I: Modules 1 – 5 (Dates: 3/2023 – 3/2024)
Foundations in Tibetan Language – Advanced Level II, Focus on Dharma: Modules 1 – 5 (Dates: 5/2024 6/2025) 

An extensive explanation of the modules of each level of the program you will find below. 

Students who successfully complete all modules of any level of the Foundations in Tibetan Language program will be awarded a certificate of completion for that level. Special certificates of completion will likewise be awarded to those students who successfully complete the Elementary Level through Advanced Level I (three years) or through Advanced Level II (four years). 

Foundations in Tibetan Language – Elementary Level: Modules 1 – 5, and Intermediate Level: Modules 1 – 5

In a series of five modules for each level, students will be introduced to the basics of the colloquial language with a focus on colloquial grammar, vocabulary and useful situational dialogues. The modules will be taught progressively and students without any prior experience with the Tibetan language are strongly advised to start from module 1 of the Elementary Level. Students having prior experience with the language who satisfactorily know the alphabet, how to read, basic sentence structure, and so forth may start from whichever module is most suitable to their language level. *All modules of the Elementary Level and Intermediate Level are available as self-paced study courses using the class recordings from 2021-23. 

Advanced Level I: Modules 1 – 5, and Advanced Level II – Focus on Dharma: Modules 1 – 5

Also in a series of five modules for each level, in the Advanced Level I modules students will gain continued exposure to the colloquial language to fluency and proficiency in using honorific language in conversation. Then on the foundation of knowing the colloquial language, the students will be introduced to the written language by first learning the basics of written grammar. Then they will progressively be introduced to diverse writings in Tibetan as well as Dharma topics and terminology as preparation for Advanced Level II – Focus on Dharma.

In the final level of the program, Advanced Level II – Focus on Dharma, the primary focus of all five modules will be learning foundational Dharma terminology through the study of essential Dharma texts. The final year will also include some translation exercises. Students who did not participate in the first two levels of the program are welcome to join modules of the Advanced Level I or II as long as they have an adequate level of colloquial Tibetan (for Advanced Level I) and written grammar knowledge (for Advanced Level II). The Advanced Levels I – II classroom is primarily Tibetan involvement which requires the student to be fairly comfortable with working in Tibetan.

Each module runs for a duration of eight weeks and will be conducted over Zoom by LRZTP senior teachers. The main teacher for program is Geshe Tenzin Wangdak with the help of other senior LRZTP teachers. Optional group review/speech training sessions conducted by native speakers will be available to the students each module for a small additional fee. 

For students who would like to practice conversation and/or receive individual tutoring outside of class, LRZTP also offers online individual Tibetan language tutoring with native speakers. Please go to the Online Private Lessons page for more information. 

The classes will be held twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The same material is taught twice a day: at 3:00 – 4:30 pm and 8:00 – 9:30 pm Indian Standard Time (IST). Students can choose the timing that is most suitable for them. For those who are unable to attend the live class sessions, the recordings of the live classes and class materials will be made available. Any previously taught modules may be joined at anytime using the class recordings. Please see below for course registration. 

The optional review/speech training sessions will be held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays at 3:00 – 4:15 pm and 8:00 – 9:15 pm IST. On Tuesdays and Thursdays early review/speech training sessions are also offered at 12 – 1:15 pm IST. The sessions on Thursdays and Fridays review the Wednesday class and the Saturday class is reviewed during the sessions on Tuesday and Sunday. There will be approximately eight sessions (ten hours total) per timing each module. Students may register for one or both days according to their selected class time. Students are not obligated to register for or attend these sessions. 

For the Advanced Level II: Focus on Dharma modules, the review classes will not be offered. Instead there will be an optional continuing advanced level Tibetan language class offered two times weekly and taught by LRZTP senior Tibetan language teachers. This class will be held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 3:00 – 4:30 pm and again at 8:00 – 9:30 pm IST.   

Students who successfully complete all modules of a level of the program will be awarded a certificate of completion by LRZTP. 

Course Description of Elementary Level: Modules 1 – 5*

The primary focus of all modules of the elementary level is learning colloquial Tibetan. In these modules, students are progressively taught the Tibetan alphabet and pronunciation, how to read, essential colloquial grammar, new vocabulary and everyday situational conversation. Any materials within the module plan which cannot be covered due to time constraints will be carried over to the following module.  (*Presently available via class recordings from 2021-22.)

Course Description of Intermediate Level: Modules 1 – 5*

The primary focus of all five modules of Intermediate Level will continue to be on developing a good foundation in the colloquial language. Each module will progressively introduce the student to relevant vocabulary and grammatical structures in conjunction with situational dialogue building on the materials covered throughout the Elementary Level. There will also be in class exercises, quizzes, optional homework assignments for each module. Any lesson materials that do not get covered during the module due to time constraints will be carried over to the following module. (*Presently available via class recordings from 2022-23.) 

Course Description of Advanced Level: Modules 1 – 5*

The primary focus of the first two modules of this level is gaining fluency in the colloquial language as well as learning honorifics and how use them situationally in conversation. Then the focus will turn to learning the fundamentals of written grammar, writing and getting to know the differences between the spoken and written languages. Throughout all modules students will gain continued exposure to fundamental Dharma terminology and will be given exercises to help hone their colloquial language, reading and writing skills. (*Presently available via class recordings from 2023-24.) 

Course Description of Advanced Level II, Focus on Dharma: Modules 1 – 5

The main text of study in the Dharma level of the program will be Takbu Yongzin Yeshe Gyatso’s text which outlines the pith teachings of Je Tsongkhapha’s Lam Rim Chenmo. Through studying this text in Tibetan students will in steps learn key Dharma terminology. Interspersed throughout the five modules will be short introductions to other key Dharma topics such as sections of Dudra (The Collected Topics), Lorig (Minds and Awarenesses) and Lojong (mind training). For students who wish to continue improving their general Tibetan language skills, an optional separate Tibetan language class will be available for each module.  In the final two modules of this level short translation workshops will also be included in the curriculum (dates to be announced). Please note that the classes will be taught using Tibetan involvement so incoming students should already have a good foundation in the colloquial language and be familiar with the written grammar. All class materials will be provided in PDF format. 

Module 1 (29 May – 27 July 2024)

In this module students will begin studying Takbu Yongzin Yeshe Gyatso’s text which outlines the pith teachings of Je Tsongkhapha’s Lam Rim Chenmo which will be progressively taught throughout all five modules. There will also be introductions to selected sections of Dudra (the Collected Topics). This plan of study will continue through module 2. There is also an optional Tibetan language class offered on Tuesdays and Fridays which will continue to focus on written, colloquial and honorific Tibetan. 

Module 2 (14 August – 12 October 2024)

Module 2 of the Advanced Level II will pick up where the previous module left off in the study Takbu Yongzin Yeshe Gyatso’s outlines of the pith teachings of Je Tsongkhapha’s Lam Rim Chenmo alongside selected sections of Dudra (the Collected Topics). The optional Tibetan language class will also continue teaching more advanced levels of written, colloquial and honorific Tibetan.

Module 3 (23 October – 21 December 2024)

Module 4 (05 February – 05 April 2025*)

Module 5 (16 April – 14 June 2025*)

(*No classes 26 February – 04 March 2025 for Tibetan new year celebration.)

Fees* 

The general fee for each eight-week module is $180. 

The optional group review/speech training fee is $35. per selected timing (available for Elementary to Advanced Level I modules only).

The optional Advanced Level II Tibetan language class fee is $85. per module for both days. The fee for non-Advanced Level II students is $135. 

We offer a fee concession to ordained Sangha members ($108. per module for the main class, and $45. per module for the optional ALII language class) and to FPMT Dharma center staff ($135. per module, and $70. per module for the optional ALII language class). 

We do not wish that the finances are an obstacle to you participating in the program. If this is an issue for you, please contact us: manager@lrztp.org 

*Module fees are inclusive of all materials. Registration for each module is completed upon the completion of registration form and fee payment. 

Cancellation policy: In the case that a module has to be cancelled the module fee is refunded. If the student cancels in the week before the course begins, then 75% of the module fee is refunded. If the student cancels within the first week of the course, then 50% of the module fee is refunded. No refund is issued after the first week of a module.

For more information, please write to:  manager@lrztp.org  

Online Program Registration 

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