ALPHABET PRE-COURSE

This Alphabet Pre-Course is for the students to learn how to read and pronounce the Tibetan script fluently, which is prerequisite for བོད་སྐད་སྙིང་པོ། The Heart of Tibetan Online Colloquial Tibetan Language Course that will start in September. For བོད་སྐད་སྙིང་པོ། The Heart of Tibetan Online Colloquial Tibetan Language Course no speaking skills are required as we’ll begin from the very simple phrases and sentences. (For example, if you have studied Classical Tibetan before, you are fine.) If you do not know how to read in Tibetan yet, you need to sign up for this course to acquire those skills before the official start of the main course. During the main course, module 1, which is about how to read, will be very brief, just a review.

Students with some prior knowledge of the Tibetan language are welcome here, as there are many layers and subtleties to be discovered.

We encourage and expect our participants to be open, curious, and flexible about online learning, and all that entails. To be successful, the student should enjoy working effectively in groups, being self-responsible, and be willing to learn on a digital platform.

Alphabet Pre-Course will take 5 weeks, with 2 live classes and 1 practice session with a native Tibetan tutor every week.

During the live classes students will learn the Tibetan alphabet and reading rules according to the Central/Exile dialect.

Additionally, to facilitate quick acquisition of reading fluency, all students will be divided into small learning groups. Students in the small groups will be working on reading tasks together. The tasks will include short reading exercises that are to be completed and checked by one’s learning buddy regularly (daily or every two days).

By the end of the course students are expected to be able to read any kind of Tibetan text, including Sanskrit mantras transliterated with Tibetan script.

TUITION POLICY

SINI’S MISSION

SINI is a non-profit service organization with a mission to preserve Tibetan culture and Dharma, to build “Bridges of Goodness” through education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and cultural exchange. It is important to us to make this course accessible to everyone who wishes to study the Tibetan language. We have, therefore, tried our very best to keep the costs as reasonable as possible, and we humbly ask for your assistance and understanding.

MONASTIC DISCOUNT

We offer a scholarship to support the continuation of the monastic tradition. Please see the course listing especially for monastics to access that discounted tuition rate which is $ 70 for this course. 

WORKSTUDY & PAYMENT IN RATES

If the tuition amount is difficult for you to afford, please do not feel shy to contact us (tibetanatsini@gmail.com). We’ll try our best to put our heads and hearts together to find a solution that can work for all parties. There is also a possibility to pay the tuition in monthly installments.

BE A SPONSOR ($108)

We are trying very hard to keep the price of the courses affordable and are covering the bare minimum. If you like and can, please consider sponsoring the Colloquial Tibetan Online Course here. With $108 you support others for whom the course rate might be less affordable than for yourself and support the overall development of our programs. 

STARTING DATES

Alphabet Pre-Course Starting and Ending Dates: July 16 - August 20, 2022