Tibetan Language Course

Introduction to Literary Tibetan

with Bill Magee

October 17th – December 16th, 2011

This two-month full-time course is tailored specifically for those who wish to learn to read Tibetan in order to support their study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism.

It is aimed in particular at complete beginners and no previous knowledge of Tibetan is either expected or required. Applicants will however be asked to familiarize themselves with the Tibetan alphabet prior to the course so that the best use possible can be made of class time.

This course consists of three daily sessions, each with a different approach to studying Tibetan:

1. Mornings: devoted to studying classical Tibetan grammar through close reading of a variety of Tibetan texts, including selections from Tzong-kha-pa, Taranatha, and Mi-pham Gya-tsho.

2. Afternoons: students will learn the basics of Tibetan dialectical debate through reading and debating Pur-bu-jok's Collected Topics.

3. Optional evening sessions: working with digital recordings of teachings and translations arranged by Jeffrey Hopkins and Bill Magee especially for the needs of first-year Tibetan language students.

Classes take place Monday to Friday, at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Pomaia (Pisa), Italy. The language of instruction is English.

This course is an ideal introduction to literary Tibetan for anyone intending to enroll in advanced Buddhist study programs such as the FPMT Basic Program (Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, January 2012 to December 2013).