Beginner Tibetan Language Class:

First Three Month:

A. Basic Reading and Writing Lessons in Tibetan.
Book: Modern Tibetan Language Vol. I by Losang Thonden Page 1 to 134
Topics: Introduction to Tibetan alphabets, vowels, super-scribed and sub-joined letters, prefixes, suffixes and post suffixes, root letters, simple verbs, prepositions.
Objectives: To be able to recognise Tibetan letters and to read and write words and build words.

B. Spoken Tibetan
Book: Tibetan Phrase book by Andrew Bloomfield and Yankyi Tsering
Simple Colloquial, dialogues in Tibetan, simple vocabulary
Greetings and other general conversations for shopping, eating work etc.
Objectives: To be able to greet and use simple spoken words and sentences to get to know about other and introduce oneself.

Six months:

A. Reading and Spoken Tibetan.
Book: Modern Tibetan Language Vol. I by Losang Thonden Page 135 to 250
Topics: Interrogatives, infinitive particles, intentional and unintentional verbs, numbers, sentence structure, sentence endings.
Objectives: To be able to use words and simple sentences in writing and spoken, and use of different ending verbs or auxiliary verbs, tenses.

B. Book: Fluent Tibetan Vol. I & II by Jeffrey Hopkins.
Topics: Dialogue, abbreviated answers, building sentences, particle, pronouns, future tenses, postpositions, object of verbs, honorific, locative, alternate verbs.
Objectives: Be able to use double verbs and sentences both in affirmative and Negative.

Nine months:

A. Book: Modern Tibetan Language Vol. II by Losang Thonden
Topics: Use of different verbalizers, comparisons/degrees and related forms, notion of line, verbs, gerunds, exclamations and other expressions.
Objectives: Be able to use correct verbalizers and spellings and make sentences grammatically correct.

B. Book: Fluent Tibetan Vol. II & III by Jeffrey Hopkins.
(Unit 12 to 15)
Topics: Present tense, pronouns, imperatives, telling Numbers, mathematical operation, nominalization, compound nouns, auxiliary verbs, honorific, three main tenses, dialogues and revision of all the previous lessons and their applications.
Objectives: Be able to use sentences in correct tenses and the ending verbs in a sentence.

 

Advanced Tibetan Language Class:

First Three Month:

A. Book: Colloquial Tibetan by Tseten Choejore Lesson No. 1 to 7
Topics: Vocabulary, verbs, conjunctions, preposition, interjections, phrases, pronouns, clauses, tenses-general and more specific, oral drills.
Objectives: To develop fluency in spoken Tibetan.

B. Book: Speak Tibetan by Dhondup Tsering
Revision: Drill of pronunciation, super scribed and sub-joined letters. Dialogues- greetings, work time, family, shopping, health, looking for hotel, traveling, use of interjective, related vocabulary.
Objectives: To be able to speak in Tibetan on subjects day to day.

Six months:

A. Book: Colloquial Tibetan by Tseten Chojor. Lesson No. 8 to 15
Topics: conjunctions, verbalizers, particles, forms of questions, nominative and instrumental (agent), tenses on intentional and unintentional verbs.
Objectives: To be able to use words and simple sentences in writing and spoken, and use of different ending verbs or auxiliary verbs, tenses.

B. Book: Tibetan Reader-IV Department of Tibetan Education, Dharamsala
Topics: simple folk tales, songs, grammar, proverbs, idioms, literary terms and expressions, prose and short Tibetan historical stories.
Objectives: To be able understand literary language and also to familiarize with Tibetan custom and habit and attitudes towards life in general.

C. Tibetan Honorific by Tsewang Tamdin.
Polite and respectful words and phrases, to be used to address elders and seniors at home and in the society.

Nine months:

Comprehension, vocabulary, literary language.
A. Book: My Land and My People, by H.H.The XIV Dalai Lama.
Topics: 1. A Peasant's son, 2 Quest for Enlightenment.
Objectives: To be able to understand literary Tibetan language and use the same in written.

B. Poetry Book: Similes of Water by Gungthang Tenpai Dolme. (20 to 30 verses.)

C. Book: Tibetan Honorific by Tsewang Tamdin
Structure and rhymes and moral lessons in the verses.

Objectives: To develop appreciation of Tibetan Literature and poem, and to be able to compose essays and also develop creative writing, and translations in Tibetan.

Note: The Course of Study and the books are just a guide to follow and the teachers to suit the level of the students knowledge in Tibetan language of respective classes may make adjustments accordingly. Darjeeling has a large Tibetan speaking community and it is advised that the students for their own progress should always try to talk in Tibetan in the Tibetan shops, restaurants and monasteries.

The course fees including the registration fees are as follows:

• For 3 months Tibetan language of study = US$230 + Registration US$30
• For 6 months Tibetan language of study = US$340 + Registration US$30
• For 9 months Tibetan language of study = US$450 + Registration US$30

Please note that all school fees are payable in Indian Rupees, at the time of arrival in Darjeeling, India.
Advanced registration for classes is strongly recommended. Please try to inform us at least one month before the start of classes of your arrival. Enrollment and course fees are paid in advance at the time of registration and are not refundable. No reduction is made for broken periods of attendance. A student is admitted into the full time course of the center only after paying the full fees.

Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of the classes, fail that course certificates will not be issued. If students are absents the center will not make up for the lessons missed.