Advanced 301

Lower Advanced

བོད་སྐད་སྙིང་པོ། The Heart of Tibetan Online Colloquial Tibetan Lower Advanced Language Course is a student-centered program that blends live and recorded learning across six engaging Modules. Advanced 301 guides you through Lessons 21–25 of the forthcoming Volume 3 and a short Review Module. You will begin working with essential dharma vocabulary in a colloquial context while refining advanced grammar.

6

Modules

Lessons 21–25 + review

Format

Live + Tutor + Moodle

Time Commitment

~11–13 hrs/week

Prerequisite

Intermediate 202 or equivalent

European woman talking with tibetan nuns

Important Note

This is the first time we offer Advanced 301 in this student-centered format. The core structure is set, but some details may be adjusted during preparation to best support students.

What You'll Achieve

By completing Advanced 301, you will:

Grammar illustration

Consolidate Intermediate skills and extend them into Lower Advanced Tibetan

Vocabulary illustration

Work with essential dharma vocabulary in colloquial usage (e.g., spread of Buddhism, biography of the Buddha, Three Turnings of the Wheel, how to listen to the dharma, refuge)

Conversation illustration

Use new advanced grammar tools: temporal connectives (simultaneity & sequence), additional nominalizers, and modal verbs

Cultural illustration

Engage more in Tibetan as the classroom language (with English used in the Live Forum for metacognition, logistics, and clarifications)

A Snippet of our Advanced 301 Webinar

ℹ️ This is a beta version of the video/webinar. The final version will include the puppets actually talking through voice actors.

What You'll Get in This Course

Live Classes

  • • Live classes with Tibetan language instructors (e.g., Franziska Oertle, Gen Lhakpa Tsering-la, and assistants)
  • • Zoom classes offered in two time slots (most likely 11:00 and 18:00 CE(S)T); all sessions on Saturdays
  • • Duration: ~1 hour
  • • Recordings available as make-up and for review (shared via YouTube with Gmail access or posted in Moodle)

Learning Resources

  • • One BETA webinar per Lesson explaining grammar via the questions of our non-human students (each question segment ~10–15 minutes)
  • • Live meeting "Discussion Forum" on soft skills (in English)
  • • White Wednesday Talks on Tibetan culture (contemporary female Buddhist teacher)
  • • A variety of self-paced activities, exercises, and resources in Moodle

Community & Support

  • • Small Learning Communities (SLCs) — the backbone of our courses
  • • Weekly 1:1 sessions with Tibetan native-speaking conversation partners
  • • Digital language lab-style speaking practice
  • • Students who know they will miss a class may send questions in advance

Practice & Assessment

  • • A challenge (final product) at the end of each Module
  • • Rubrics for reflection and self-assessment
  • • Anki flashcards with audio and example sentences
  • • Games, songs, and dialogues
  • • e-Portfolio with personalized feedback
📚

Auditing option

Auditing students follow the course pace, join an SLC, and meet weekly with a tutor, but do not attend Saturday live classes (except the Live Forum), do not submit assignments, and therefore do not receive teacher feedback. Auditors still receive full Moodle access, including class recordings.

What Our Learners Say

A few words from our Advanced 301 cohort.

❝

This has been an excellent learning experience - just as the previous beginner and intermediate courses - thank you so much!

❝

Great course, very clear and helpful. Thank you!!

❝

Fantastic online tibetan course! Absolutely recommanded - you'll have fun!!!

❝

I'd like to express my thanks to Franziska and everyone else for the truly excellent and helpful course, especially for those like me who love studying Tibetan but don't have much time. The text, grammar, and content were top-notch. Thank you. And thanks also to my classmates, whom I hope to meet again.

❝

If you are interested in Buddhism then this course may be useful for you. The methods of "teaching" are diverse, which is good if you have struggled to improve with conventional methods. However you need a good internet connection for the recorded vids, online exercises and live class. If you are not interested in Buddhism, then the vocab may not be very useful.

Your Learning Team

Meet the teachers, tutors, and companions who make learning fun.

Teachers

Franziska Oertle

Franziska Oertle

Lead teacher

Sees her work as a personal contribution to preserving Tibetan culture and Dharma.

Tutors

Tutor Team

Tutor Team

Native speaker tutors

Kind, patient speakers in India & Nepal.

Companions

Ms. Giraffe

Ms. Giraffe

Learning Companion

Nerdy grammar scout.

🐾 P.S.

Pets are welcome learning buddies too: they're patient listeners who never complain about grammar mistakes!

Monastic student learning

Our Methodology

Our approach is both student-centered and learning-centered. We believe that people learn best when they are active, curious, and supported by a caring community.

Dr. Fink's Taxonomy

We draw on Dr. Fink's 6-fold Taxonomy of Significant Learning, which highlights knowledge, application, integration, the human dimension, caring, and learning how to learn.

Soft Skills & Metacognition

Special focus is placed on soft skills: reflection, self-awareness, collaboration, and empathy. Students are invited to keep an e-Portfolio and share reflections in forums, helping them grow not only as language learners but as human beings. In addition to Tibetan conversations, the Live Forum helps build metacognitive skills in English.

Balanced Pedagogy

Classes blend traditional Tibetan grammar with modern, interactive pedagogy. Grammar and vocabulary are balanced with songs, stories, cultural exchange, and playful activities.

Joy and Humor

Joy and humor are essential to our method. A smile, a bit of laughter, and curiosity keep learning light while ensuring deep progress.

Want to Learn More about our Methodology? Here's a Detailed Video

Practical Details

Everything you need to know before enrolling

Prerequisites

  • • Alumni of Intermediate 201 & 202 are qualified
  • • Newcomers: must have studied The Heart of Tibetan Language Vol. 1 & 2 (or equivalent)
  • • Entrance Presentation required for new and former auditing students
  • • Module 0 (Learning how to learn online) required if not completed before

Tuition & Financial Support

  • • Sliding scale tuition: $475 minimum ($325 for monastics)
  • • Auditing version: $300 ($225 for monastics)
  • • Scholarships & payment plans available

Refund Policy

  • • Refund depends on withdrawal timing
  • • Up to 55% refund if leaving during Module 1
  • • Module 2: 40% refund
  • • Module 3: 30% refund
  • • No refund after Module 3
The Heart of Tibetan Language, Vol. 3 — cover

Textbook for This Course

བོད་སྐད་སྙིང་པོ། The Heart of Tibetan Language, Volume 3

Forthcoming — draft PDF included in course package. This volume blends colloquial grammar with carefully selected dharma terminology and includes dialogues, Buddhist quotes and short prayers, biographies, verses from ལེགས་བཤད་ལྗོན་དབང་།, vocabulary with examples and syllable explanations, songs, detailed grammar, and rubrics. A workbook accompanies the text.

Why Choose Advanced 301?

Advanced 301 blends colloquial Tibetan with core dharma vocabulary in a supportive, joyful environment. With a gentle pace, weekly tutor sessions, SLCs, and thoughtful reflection, you'll grow into advanced conversation while engaging with the cultural and spiritual heart of Tibetan language.

Ready to Advance Your Tibetan Journey?

Join our Advanced 301 cohort and take your Tibetan to the next level.

Next cohort will start in September 2026
Explore 302

Don't want to wait that long? Check out our self-paced courses and see if you can catch up to join the Advanced 302 cohort in January 2026.

Explore Self-Paced Advanced Courses →

Advanced 301 FAQ

What is Advanced 301?

Advanced 301 is the Lower Advanced Course. It starts with a review of key Intermediate grammar (modal verbs, conditionals, relative clauses, etc.) and then covers Lessons 21–25 of The Heart of Tibetan Language, Volume 3.

Who can join Advanced 301?

Alumni of Intermediate 201 & 202 are ready to continue.

Auditing students of Intermediate 201/Intermediate 202 must submit an Entrance Presentation video to join as general students.

New students who studied Volumes 1 & 2 elsewhere can join if they submit the Entrance Presentation.

Other learners with intermediate experience are asked to review Volumes 1 & 2 and/or purchase access to our Intermediate resources to prepare.

What is the Entrance Presentation?

Instead of an exam, new and former auditing students submit a short video: part in Tibetan, part in English. This shows your language skills, motivation, and basic tech readiness. You'll submit it before the beginning of the Course.

What will I learn?

You'll begin working with Buddhist topics in colloquial Tibetan, such as:

  • The spreading of Buddhism
  • The Buddha's life
  • The Three Turnings of the Dharma Wheel
  • How to listen to the Dharma
  • Taking refuge

Grammar includes temporal connectives, new nominalizers, and advanced modal verbs.

How much time should I plan each week?

Plan for about 11–13 hours per week.

How long is each module?

301 follows the "Mr. Sloth" pace: 4 weeks per Module. This slower rhythm gives you time to absorb the advanced material.

When are the live classes?

There are four live sessions per Module, usually Saturdays, with two time slots (likely 11:00 and 18:00 CE(S)T). One session per Module is a Live Forum focused on soft skills. Optional White Wednesday cultural talks are also included. All sessions are recorded and shared privately.

What if I miss a class?

Send your questions in advance, then catch up with the recording afterward. Recordings are posted to Moodle or shared via YouTube with your Gmail login.

Who are the teachers?

Classes are led by Franziska Oertle, Gen Lhakpa Tsering-la, and sometimes an assistant. You'll also learn with native speaker tutors and your Small Learning Community (SLC).

What materials are included?
  • Live classes with speaking practice, songs, games, and Dharma vocabulary
  • Beta-version grammar webinars (10–15 min segments)
  • Weekly SLC meetings
  • Weekly 1:1 conversation with a native speaker
  • A digital practice lab
  • Anki flashcards, learning games, and songs
  • An e-portfolio with teacher feedback
  • Rubrics for reflection and self-assessment
  • End-of-module challenges
  • White Wednesday cultural talks
Which Textbook Do I Need?

We use The Heart of Tibetan Language, Volume 3. If the final print isn't out, you'll receive a PDF draft of Lessons 21–25. The exercise book accompanies it.

What platforms and tools are used?
  • Moodle for resources and assignments
  • Zoom for live classes
  • YouTube for recordings
  • Gmail for recordings and Google Drive
  • WhatsApp for tutor classes, logistics, and conversation partners
How much is tuition?

Tuition follows a sliding scale. The minimum fee is $475 ($325 for monastics). The auditing option is available for $300 ($225 for monastics).

Can I pay in installments?

Yes, but not every month! Payment plans are available. Contact us before registering.

Do you offer scholarships or sponsorships?

Actually, monastics don't have to "apply" for it - we just offer the 30% discount to them. Other students can add a $108 sponsorship to support peers.

What is the refund policy?
  • Review Module 1: 55% refund
  • Module 2: 40%
  • Module 3: 30%
  • Later: no refund