Advanced 302

Continue from Advanced 301

བོད་སྐད་སྙིང་པོ། The Heart of Tibetan Online Colloquial Tibetan Upper Advanced Language Course continues with Lessons 26–30 of Volume 3. Advanced 302 guides you deeper into dharma vocabulary and advanced grammar, combining colloquial Tibetan with philosophical and cultural content.

6

Modules

Lessons 26–30 + review

Format

Live + Tutor + Moodle

Time Commitment

~11–13 hrs/week

Prerequisite

Advanced 301 or equivalent

Woman looking over Dharamshala

Important Note

This is the first time we offer Advanced 302 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 the end of Advanced 302, you will:

Grammar illustration

Deepen your command of dharma vocabulary in colloquial use: dependent origination, bodhicitta, meditation, etc.

Vocabulary illustration

Strengthen advanced grammar: "Almost", "already", expressive particles, འང་ & འང་། verb-pairs and more

Conversation illustration

Read, listen to and discuss simple dharma-related dialogues and texts in Tibetan

Cultural illustration

Engage in extended conversations on philosophy, culture, and daily life

What You'll Get in This Course

Live Learning & Classes

  • • Weekly live classes on Zoom in two time slots
  • • Small Learning Communities (SLCs): groups of ~4 students meeting weekly
  • • One-on-one tutor sessions
  • • White Wednesday Talks (contemporary female Buddhist teacher)
  • • Class recordings available (YouTube)

Study Resources

  • • Key-point videos (5–10 minutes each)
  • • One webinar per Module (up to 2 hours) with detailed grammar explanations
  • • Dialogue, songs, and learning challenges

Reflection

  • • e-Portfolio with personalized feedback
  • • Live Forum Discussions about cultural topics and soft skills
  • • Rubrics for self-assessment

Digital Tools

  • • Anki flashcards with audio and example sentences
  • • Memrise decks
  • • Access to Moodle resources and activities
📚

Auditing option

If you prefer a lighter commitment, you can audit the course. Auditors follow the same weekly pace as general students and join an SLC, a tutor class, and self-study. You'll still have access to Moodle resources and YouTube recordings, but you won't attend the Saturday live classes (except the forum) and won't receive teacher feedback. Tuition is lower, and we ask that you keep up with the group so your SLC stays lively and supportive.

When Does the Next Course Start?

Opening Ceremony

January 2026

Classes

Run through July 2026

Closing Ceremony

July 2026

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

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.

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 and Advanced 301 are qualified
  • • Former auditors of Advanced 301: join review sessions or submit an Entrance Presentation video
  • • Newcomers: must have studied The Heart of Tibetan Language Vol. 1 & 2 and half of Vol. 3 (or equivalent)
  • • 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, sponsorships, and installment plans available

Refund Policy

  • • Refund depends on withdrawal timing
  • • Review/Module 1: 55% refund
  • • Module 2: 40% refund
  • • Module 3: 30% refund
  • • Later: no refund
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 302?

Advanced 302 is your chance to stretch your Tibetan into more complex, real-world conversations. With lively classes, tutor support, and engaging materials, you'll gain fluency, confidence, and cultural depth.

Ready to Continue Your Tibetan Journey?

Join our Advanced 302 cohort starting January 2026 and advance your Tibetan fluency.

Advanced 302 FAQ

What is Advanced 302?

Advanced 302 is the Upper Advanced Course. It reviews grammar from Advanced 301 and then covers Lessons 26–30 of The Heart of Tibetan Language, Volume 3. The focus is on advanced colloquial grammar and essential Dharma vocabulary, including dialogues on Buddhist views, meditation, the qualities of the Three Jewels, bodhicitta, and the Four Immeasurables.

Who can join Advanced 302?

Alumni of Intermediate (201 & 202) and Advanced 301 are prepared.

Auditors of Advanced 301 can become general students in Advanced 302 by either joining Review Sessions or submitting an Entrance Presentation video.

New students with other Tibetan training must show they've studied Volumes 1 & 2 and at least half of Volume 3, or purchase access to our preparatory resources.

In all cases, new students submit an Entrance Presentation video (partly in Tibetan, partly in English) by mid-December 2025.

What will I learn?

You'll strengthen your Tibetan with:

Colloquial grammar (expressive particles, advanced modal verbs, nominalizers, "already," "almost," etc.)
Dharma vocabulary and dialogues
Short Buddhist quotes, prayers, and grammar from indigenous Tibetan treatises

By the end, you'll be able to discuss Buddhist topics in Tibetan with more fluency and nuance.

How much time should I plan each week?

Plan for 11–13 hours per week.

How long is each module?

302 follows the "Mr. Sloth" pace: 4 weeks per module (one lesson per module).

When are the live classes?

Live classes are on Saturdays at 11:00 and 18:00 CE(S)T, with four sessions per module. One per module is a Live Forum on metacognitive skills. Optional White Wednesday talks introduce contemporary Buddhist teachers. All live sessions are recorded and shared privately.

What if I miss a class?

You can send questions in advance and watch the recording afterward on Moodle or YouTube (shared with your Gmail login).

Who are the teachers?

Classes are taught by Gen Lhakpa Tsering-la, Gen Bhargavi Viswanath-la, and/or Franziska Oertle, with support from tutors and weekly Tibetan conversation partners.

What materials are included?
  • Live classes with conversation, Dharma vocabulary, games, songs, and Q&A
  • Grammar webinars (1 per lesson, divided into 15–20 min segments)
  • Weekly SLC meetings
  • Weekly 1:1 with a Tibetan conversation partner
  • A digital practice lab
  • An e-portfolio with teacher feedback
  • Anki flashcards, games, and songs
  • End-of-module challenges
  • White Wednesday cultural talks
  • Self-paced resources and activities on Moodle
Which textbook do I need?

We use The Heart of Tibetan Language, Volume 3 and its exercise book. If not yet published, we provide a finalized PDF draft of Lessons 26–30.

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

Sliding scale minimum tuition: $475 ($325 for monastics)
Auditing option: $300 ($225 for monastics)

Can I pay in installments?

Yes. Installments are available (but not every month due to the length of each Module) — email us to arrange this.

Do you offer scholarships or sponsorships?

Yes. Our monastic friends can apply for a scholarship. Students with means are invited to add a $108 sponsorship to support others.

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