Comprehensive Guide to Learning Tibetan Language Resources
The modern Tibetan language, derived from the Old Tibetan of the 7th-9th centuries, is spoken by approximately 6 million people worldwide and encompasses over 200 dialects. Predominantly spoken across the Tibetan Plateau, Nepal, India, and Bhutan, Tibetan is integral to Buddhist culture, literature, philosophical discourse, and liturgy, most notably through the Tibetan Buddhist canon, a collection of Buddhist texts including sutras and shastras from both Mahayana and Early Buddhist traditions.
Tibetan is broadly classified into Classical Literary Tibetan and Colloquial Tibetan, each with distinct grammatical structures. Classical Tibetan is used in canonical and liturgical texts but also appears in modern writing. Colloquial Tibetan encompasses the diverse dialects used in everyday conversation among Tibetan communities.
With the growing interest in Tibetan Buddhism and its rich literary tradition, numerous programs worldwide now offer opportunities to study both Classical and Colloquial Tibetan. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to the resources available for Tibetan language study.
Study Abroad Programs
School for International Training (SIT)
SIT offers immersive study abroad programs focusing on Tibetan and Himalayan society, religion, art, and history, alongside language studies in Tibetan or Nepali. These courses, available for university credit during the Fall and Spring academic years, provide an in-depth understanding of the region and its culture.
Rangjung Yeshe Institute (RYI)
Affiliated with Kathmandu University and founded by Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, RYI provides higher education in Tibetan language, Sanskrit, and Nepali. The institute combines traditional and modern education in Buddhist philosophy, history, and culture. RYI offers degree programs from BA to PhD levels, along with summer intensives, certificate courses, and a year-long translator training program.
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The College for Higher Tibetan Studies (CHTS)
Located in Sarah village, Dharmshala, CHTS offers international students training in Tibetan language, Buddhist philosophy, and teacher training. The Tibetan language courses, spanning 10 months (July-April), cater to beginner, pre-intermediate, and intermediate levels. CHTS also has exchange programs with Earlham College and Emory University, as well as a summer intensive for young Tibetans raised in the West who want to learn about Tibetan culture, history, and the exile community's experiences.
Hybrid or Online Tibetan Learning
Esukia
Esukia connects Tibetan language learners with native Tibetan speakers for one-on-one conversation-based learning. Utilizing open-source materials, Esukia offers various teachers to accommodate students at different levels. Classes are conducted online, enabling study from anywhere with an internet connection, with the option of immersion learning in Dharmsala.
Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Program (LRZTP)
LRZTP specializes in training translators for Buddhist Dharma centers or freelance Tibetan translation work. Program options include a two-year language and interpretation training program, intensive short courses, and online private lessons.
LopLao (Easy Tibetan)
Founded by Tenzin Choephel, LopLao provides diverse online and in-person learning programs tailored to various Tibetan language learners' needs.
Mangalam Research Center (MRC)
MRC offers online language courses in Sanskrit and Tibetan. MRC introduces language learners to foundational linguistic theory, grammar, and vocabulary through chanting and reading simple Buddhist texts, as well as training in reading a range of genres.
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Tibetan Language Institute (TLI)
TLI, a non-profit educational organization founded by David Curtis, aims to help students discover the joy of learning Classical Tibetan through an organized system of study. Students can study at their own pace or through private lessons with David.
University Courses, Degree Programs, and Summer Intensives
North American Universities
University of Wisconsin-Madison
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University of Chicago
The University of Chicago offers Tibetan classes at all levels each year, along with a doctoral program in Buddhist Studies. They also have an online course-share program with Northwestern University.
University of Virginia (UVA)
UVA has been at the forefront of teaching and researching the Tibetan language since the 1970s. Their program includes rigorous training in Classical and Colloquial Tibetan, fieldwork, immersive language training, and deep inquiry into primary texts.
Maitripa College
Maitripa College, a higher learning institute for Buddhist Studies in Portland, OR, offers an MA in Buddhist Studies with a Tibetan Language Track and continuing education for non-degree-seeking students. They also provide an 8-week summer intensive course in Tibetan language.
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University of British Columbia (UBC)
UBC offers summer language intensives in Nepali, Tibetan, and Sanskrit, open to both degree-seeking and non-UBC students. This program is offered through the Department of Asian Studies, which provides training in Asian culture, thought, religion, and language.
Yale University
Yale University provides training in Classical Tibetan from beginner to advanced levels. Tibetan language courses range from a basic introduction to grammar to reading a variety of primary texts from a range of genres.
European Universities
University of Hamburg
The University of Hamburg offers a 2-year International Master's Program in Tibetan Studies.
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna offers a BA in Languages and Cultures of South Asia and Tibet. The program offers training in Classical and Colloquial Tibetan along with studies in Sanskrit, Old Indic, Prakrit, Hindi, and Nepali.
University of Leipzig
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University of Leiden
The University of Leiden's South Asian & Tibetan Studies program provides students with opportunities to study Classical Tibetan, Sanskrit, Indonesian, and Hindi, as well as the opportunity to study abroad and undergo immersive training in their chosen area of study.
SOAS University of London
SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) offers an online course in Classical Tibetan through their Language Centre to help students gain the ability to understand Tibetan Buddhist texts.
Inalco (Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales)
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Online Language Learning Resources
- Loplao: Offers bite-sized social media content, one-to-one online lessons with native speakers, blog posts, YouTube videos, and summer and winter schools. Their language lesson formats offer flexibility, help keep learners engaged, and improve conversation, reading, and listening comprehension.
Books on Tibetan Language Learning
Choosing the right textbook depends on whether you are pursuing Classical or Colloquial Tibetan.
Dictionaries
- Monlam Grand Tibetan Dictionary 2020: Continually updated and available for download online, this is a comprehensive dictionary for Colloquial and Modern Literary terms.
- An encyclopedic Tibetan-Tibetan dictionary: Originally published in Beijing, this two-volume dictionary emphasizes Buddhist terminology.
- Tibetan-English Dictionary by Melvyn C. Goldstein: The largest Tibetan-English dictionary ever published, considered a significant achievement in Tibetan language scholarship.
- Pocket Tibetan-English Dictionary by Melvyn C. Goldstein: Recommended for Beginner and Intermediate Level students of Colloquial and Modern Literary Tibetan.
- A Tibetan-Chinese-Tibetan dictionary: Published in China, this dictionary is a main source for scholars and translators in Tibetan studies.
- A catalogue of Buddhist terminology which includes Sanskrit equivalents: By T. G. Dhongthog.
- An English-Tibetan Dictionary By T. G. Dhongthog.
- Manual of Standard Tibetan By T. G. Dhongthog.
- A Tibetan-English Dictionary with Sanskrit Synonyms By Sarat Chandra Das
Grammar and Textbooks
- Manual of Standard Tibetan By Sarat Chandra Das
- Introduction to Classical Tibetan By Stephen Hodge
- Essentials of Modern Literary Tibetan By Melvyn C. Goldstein
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