Classical Tibetan I
Course Description
This course introduces you to the Classical Tibetan language, giving you direct access to the treasures of Tibetan Buddhism. Classical Tibetan is indispensable for exploring the nuances and subtleties of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and practice. It’s your gateway to the rich world of Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna Buddhism. In this course, you will learn reading, writing, and typing in Tibetan, and you will begin to translate simple texts.
Interactive and for-credit study formats give you access to a moderator, the popular RYI Classical Tibetan textbook, a discussion forum, live question and answer sessions, quizzes, and feedback on homework assignments. This is a university-level course and can be taken for academic credit through Kathmandu University (3 credits). Successful students spend approximately 6-9 hours per week studying and completing assignments. If you prefer a slower pace, please register for the Interactive or Self-study formats of this course.
Prerequisites:
- Familiarity with the Tibetan script
- Access to viewing the audio/video lectures on a computer or hand-held device
- Reading Tibetan fonts on a computer
Course Modules
Week 1
- Lecture topics
- Nouns, adjectives, and compound words
- Demonstrative pronouns, indefinite pronouns, and plural pronouns
- Numbers, word order, and lists
- 2 Homework assignments
- 1 Quiz
Week 2
- Lecture topics
- Particles and personal pronouns
- Connective particles
- 3 Homework assignments
- 1 Quiz
Week 3
- Lecture topics
- Emphatic particle and honorifics
- 1 Homework assignment
- 1 Quiz
Week 4
- Lecture topics
- Introduction to verbs
- Linking verbs
- Existential verbs
- Transitive and intransitive verbs
- Terminating particles
- 1 Homework assignment
- 2 Quizzes
Week 5
- Lecture topics
- The agentive/instrumental particle
- 1 Homework assignment
- 1 Quiz
Week 6
- Lecture topics
- Special structure of some intransitive verbs
- Nominalized verbs and vocative case
- Imperative mood
- 3 Homework assignments
- 1 Quiz
Week 7
- Lecture topics
- The “la don” particle
- 3 Homework assignments
- 2 Quizzes
Week 8
- Lecture topics
- Concessive particles, using “and/or”
- 1 Homework assignment
- 1 Quiz
Week 9
- Review Week
Week 10
- Lecture topics
- The source particles
- Relative clauses
- Interrogative and indefinite pronouns
- 1 Homework assignment
- 2 Quizzes
Week 11
- Lecture topics
- Review
- Auxiliary verbs
- 1 Homework assignment
- 1 Quiz
Week 12
- Lecture topics
- Uses of verbal particles
- 2 Homework assignments
- 1 Quiz
Week 13
- Lecture topics
- The continuative particle
- Approaching a Tibetan sentence
- 1 Homework assignment
- 1 Quiz
Week 14
- Review
- Final exam
Students Will Receive
- Study plan
- 25 Pre-recorded video lectures
- The RYI textbook of Classical Tibetan language
- 14 Quizzes
- Weekly homework assignments
- Course Completion Certificate (PDF)
- In the interactive course format, students also receive active guidance:
- Homework assignments with written evaluation by the course moderator
- Access to the private community forum
- Live Question & Answer sessions with the course moderator
- Note that Course moderators are available for live Q&A session during three semester periods:
- Fall Semester: September 1 – December 15
- Spring Semester: January 15 – May 1
- Summer Semester: June 15 – August 7
- During each active semester, moderators hold weekly live Q&A session. In the semester breaks, communication is limited to written correspondence once a week.
Enrollment is OPEN for
Self-Study
$150
/Year
- Study at your own pace
- Video lectures
- Homework assignments
- Weekly quizzes
- Links to resources and additional material
- Course completion certificate
- Course moderator
- Live Q&A sessions
- Feedback on assignments
- Exam evaluations
- For-credit
Interactive Non-Credit
$325
/Year
- Study at your own pace
- Video lectures
- Homework assignments
- Weekly quizzes
- Links to resources and additional material
- Course moderator
- Live Q&A sessions
- Feedback on assignments
- Exam evaluations
- Course completion certificate
- For-Credit
Interactive
For-Credit
$534
/Year
- Includes all features of the Interactive non-credit course.
