Tibetan Language Primer with Lopon Pema Longdrol
July 4 to December 16
The first Tibetan Language Primer course with Lopon Pema Longdrol is a full introduction to the cases and particles of classical Tibetan grammar, an exercise ground for the first steps in speaking modern colloquial Tibetan, and an introduction to Buddhist philosophy and Chos sKad - Dharma language.
Reading-Out-Loud/Calligraphy (8:00-8:30)
Morning supplementary classes, Reading-Out-Loud/Shouting-Out-Loud and Calligraphy are given as the strong foundation on which students can build a familiarity and more reflex oriented relationship with the language.
Spoken Tibetan/Listening Comprehension (8:35 - 9:20)
How do we learn how to speak? Immersion and drilling. For the student to get comfortable with spoken Tibetan, a diligent effort must be made not only in the class, but outside, in the Tibetan community. Invariably, students meet the most difficulties while trying to speak the Tibetan language. With thick dialects, challenging pronunciations, honorifics, and irregular grammar, speaking is one of the biggest hurdles to cross. In the Basic Spoken Tibetan class, drilling and exercise will be the primary focus.
As an important note, Bir might well be one of the most challenging places to practice your spoken Tibetan because it is a community of people mainly from the Kham region of Tibet. "Khams sKad" or "Kham dialect" is a dialect that is extremely challenging for the ear to discern at the beginning as well as the end! In class, the modern "dBu sKad" or "central dialect"will be taught. Other Tibetans will have difficulty understanding you at the beginning, but if effort is made, mutual comprehension can be reached!
Grammar (9:30-10:30)
This class will investigate, line by line, Yangchen Drubpa'i Dorje's "The Wish-fulfilling Tree (Legs bShad lJon dBang)," an encapsulation of all key grammar points covered in Thonmi Sambhota's treatise on Tibetan Grammar "The Thirty Verses (bSum bCu Pa)." After completion of this course, students will have covered all the cases and particles of Tibetan grammar, the first step to being able to read classical Tibetan. Ideally, students should complete a study of this root text more than once as with each investigation they will find more and more depth in the outwardly simple grammar points.
Introductory Philosophy/Reading (10:45-11:45)
The material for this class is to be decided on. Possible texts include Lectures on Tibetan Religious Culture, Kindness, Clarity & Insight, The Treatise on Tea and Chang, Nagarjuna's Letter, and others. As most students will already have a background in personal study of Buddhist philosophy, this course will focus mainly on the 'Dharma language' or 'Chos sKad,' and the actual reading comprehension of the classical Tibetan.
Intermediate Buddhist Philosophy
with Khenpo Ngawang Woser
May 2 to September 23
The first Buddhist philsophy course with Khenpo Ngawang Woser is an exposition of Aryadeva's treatise "The Four Hundred Verses," bZhi brGya pa'i bTan bCos. Conducting in both Tibetan and English, Khenpo Ngawang will do his best to transmit the meaning through the specialized Tibetan philosophical terminology and expressions and then clarify any misunderstandings with a more relaxed dialogue in English. Within the first two weeks, the class will arrive at a suitable balance of Tibetan vs. English lecture and dialogue that challenges student's Tibetan yet does not sacrifice their actual understanding of the text.
Presently, there is one translation of "The Four Hundred" along with a commentary written by Gyal Tshab Je that is translated by Ruth Sonam of the Tibetan Library. This can serve as an invaluable crutch to understanding a treatise that is hard to comprehend even in one's own first language. Khenpo is still in the process of deciding which commentary to teach in Tibetan. Preferably, the class will focus on the Svatantrika Madhyamika view and interpretation of the text, a tenet that is less emphasized due to a strong preference of the Prasangika Madhyamika view.
Monday through Friday, students will meet in the mornings for a 45 minute "reading-out-loud" session. After a small break, students will then have class with Khenpo for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, with a small break in the middle. The most important homework of the course is nightly reading of the next class's material so that new terminologies and expressions can be absorbed. Students will also have to prepare periodic written summaries in Tibetan on key points of the verses covered each week.
Post-Intermediate Tibetan Grammar with Lopon Pema Longdrol
May 2 to July 1
