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: 03/2021 – 03/2022)
Foundations in Tibetan Language – Intermediate Level: Modules 1 – 5 (Dates: 03/2022 – 03/2023)
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: 3/2024 – 4/2025)
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.
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.
Module 1 (22 March – 13 May 2023) Advanced Level module 1 continues where the final module of the Intermediate Level leaves off in teaching the colloquial language. The goal of this module is to gain a higher level of fluency and confidence in conversation. The colloquial lessons will teach advanced colloquial structures as well as include situational conversation topics related to Buddhism in which one gains gradually exposure to Buddhist terminology. Honorific language will also be introduced throughout the module and students will be engaged conversationally as much as possible during the classes. Introduction to Tibetan “cursive” handwriting (khuk-yik) will begin in this module, and course work will also include diary writing and other exercises.
Module 2 (24 May – 15 July 2023) Building on where the previous module leaves off, the emphasis of this module will continue to be on gaining a higher level of fluency and confidence in conversation as well as appropriate use of honorific language. Therefore, honorific language will be introduced throughout the module and students will be get the opportunity to use honorific language in conversation during the classes. Advanced colloquial structures as well conversation topics related to Buddhism will be taught throughout the module, and students will continue to learn Tibetan “cursive” handwriting (khuk-yik) along with diary writing and other exercises.
Module 3 (09 August – 30 September 2023) This module will continue to build on the colloquial language with the aim of gaining a higher level of fluency and confidence during conversation including the appropriate use of honorific language. In the course of this module students will also be introduced essential elements of the written grammar in preparation for the coming modules as the emphasis turns to written Tibetan and Dharma language. Students will be exposed to Tibetan sayings, poetic song lyrics, short stories, news articles as well as participate in discussions and be given practical writing exercises.
Module 4 (11 October – 02 December 2023) In the final two modules of Advanced Level I students will continue developing fluency in the colloquial language but the primary focus will be on study of the written language and gaining an understanding of the chief differences between spoken and written Tibetan. In the classroom students will also continue to practice using honorific language in conversation and gain continued exposure to Tibetan sayings, poetic song lyrics, short stories, news articles, etc. as well as participate in discussions and be given practical writing exercises.
Module 5 (03 January – 02 March 2024*) Building upon where the previous module leaves off, the fifth and final module of Advanced Level I will introduce higher levels of written Tibetan as well as further develop the students’ colloquial Tibetan through constant usage in the Tibetan medium classroom. Students will continue to learn about the chief differences between the spoken and written languages as they gain continued exposure to diverse genres of written Tibetan. They will also be given practical oral and written exercises over the course of the module. (*No classes 07 – 13 February 2024 for Tibetan new year celebration.)
Course Description of Advanced Level II, Focus on Dharma: Modules 1 – 5
(To be announced)
Module 1 (20 March – 18 May 2024)
Module 2 (29 May – 27 July 2024)
Module 3 (14 August – 12 October 2024)
Module 4 (23 October – 21 December 2024)
Module 5 (05 February – 19 April 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.
We offer a fee concession to ordained Sangha members ($108. per module) and to FPMT Dharma center staff ($135. per module).
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