Beginner 102

Continue where 101 left off

Deepen your skills in grammar, vocabulary, and conversation about school, food, weather, free time, shopping, and family.

Over six modules (6–11), you'll deepen your skills in grammar, vocabulary, and conversation. This course combines live classes, pre-recorded resources, and one-on-one tutor practice to strengthen your foundation in the Central/Exile dialect.

6

Modules

Module 6–11

Format

Live + Tutor + Moodle

Time Commitment

~10 hrs/week

Prerequisite

Have basic Colloquial language & grammar skills

Woman at a café in Dharamshala, northern India

What You'll Achieve

By the end of Beginner 102, you will:

Reading illustration

Use a wider range of grammar structures, including tenses, imperative, and auxiliary verbs

Grammar illustration

Converse about daily-life topics: food, weather, family, hobbies, and shopping

Conversation illustration

Strengthen listening and speaking confidence with native tutors

Cultural illustration

Understand grammar categories and cultural perspectives of Tibetan

A Peek Inside Beginner 102

Get a glimpse into an animated class with the non-human students and their grammar questions!

Key Point Video

Webinar

What You'll Get in This Course

Live Learning

  • • Weekly live classes
  • • Small Learning Communities (SLCs): groups of ~4 students meeting weekly
  • • One-on-one tutor sessions
  • • White Wednesday Talks (optional) focus on Tibetan culture

Study Resources

  • • Animated key-point videos (5 min)
  • • Grammar webinars (30–60 min)
  • • Dialogue podcasts
  • • Module-end challenges

Digital Tools

  • • Flashcards (Anki)
  • • Interactive exercises
  • • Games
  • • Songs
  • • Podcasts

Support & Progress

  • • E-Portfolio with personalized feedback
  • • Moodle platform (access on any device, tech support)
  • • Class recordings available for review
  • • Send questions in advance if you'll miss a session
📚

Auditing option

If you prefer a lighter commitment, you can audit the course. Auditors follow the same weekly pace as full 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.

What Our Learners Say

A few words from our Beginner 102 cohort.

❝

Wonderful! I enjoyed the skillful and kind approach of the teachers and tutors. The course was well structured, interactive, and supportive.

❝

An excellent course! Gen Franziska-la's love for Tibetan and her way of teaching shines through. I felt inspired and motivated every week.

❝

The most thought-out and well-structured online course I have ever taken. Everything was clear, well prepared, and easy to follow.

❝

Very thorough and comprehensive. Also excellent in creating a joyful and encouraging environment for us beginners.

❝

This course has such a variety of learning methods—live classes, tutor sessions, group work, and self-study—that I always felt engaged and never lost momentum.

❝

Very serious but funny program. I recommend it to anyone interested in Tibetan. It manages to balance discipline with humor.

When Does the Next Course Start?

Opening Ceremony

January 2026

Classes

Run through July 2026

Closing Ceremony

July 2026

View detailed week-by-week schedule
Enroll Now

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

  • • Completion of Lower Beginner Course (Beginner 101) or equivalent
  • • Ability to read Tibetan script in Uchen with basic fluency
  • • Comfort with simple conversations about school, family, interests, and greetings
  • • Familiarity with basic grammar (pronouns, particles, བདག་གཞན།, direct vs. inferential knowledge)

Tuition & Financial Support

  • • Sliding scale tuition: $475 minimum ($325 for monastics)
  • • Auditing version: $300 ($225 for monastics)
  • • Payment plans and scholarships available

Refund Policy

  • • Refund depends on withdrawal timing
  • • Up to 70% refund if leaving during Module 1
  • • Reduced percentages as course continues
The Heart of Tibetan Language, Vol. 1 — cover

Discover the textbook that accompanies this course

The Heart of Tibetan Language, Vol. 1

with accompanying workbook

Order hardcopy → Order from Vajra Bookshop → Get eBook on Google Play → Get the Audio files →

Why Choose Beginner 102?

This course gives you the space and time to deepen your Tibetan step by step. With live feedback, tutor sessions, engaging key-point videos, and a supportive community, you'll gain the confidence to use verbs naturally and start holding meaningful conversations.

Ready to Start Your Tibetan Journey?

Join our next Beginner 102 cohort and begin speaking Tibetan with confidence.

Enroll Now Explore Intermediate 201

Beginner 102 FAQ

What is Beginner 102?

Beginner 102 is the Upper Beginner Course and the direct continuation of Beginner 101. It covers Modules 6–11 (Lessons 6–10 plus a review lesson) of The Heart of Tibetan Language, Volume 1. The focus is on mastering verbs in colloquial Tibetan and expanding your ability to hold everyday conversations.

Do I need to finish 101 first?

Yes. If you've completed Beginner 101, you're ready for Beginner 102. If you audited Beginner 101 and now want to join as a full student, you'll need either to attend the Review Sessions (October–December) or submit a short Entrance Presentation video. New students coming from outside must show that they can read Tibetan script fluently and already know basic grammar and vocabulary from Lessons 1–5.

What will I learn during Beginner 102?

Together with 101, you'll be able to hold simple conversations on topics like school, family, hobbies, food, weather, and shopping. You'll use a range of tenses — past, present, future, and imperative — and become comfortable in small talk about yourself, your country, and your interests.

How much time should I plan each week?

Ideally, plan for about 10–12 hours per week. This includes live classes, tutor groups, self-study, and your weekly 1:1 with a native speaker.

How long is each module?

Each module is 4 weeks which allows enough time to absorb and integrate the new vocabulary and grammar.

When are the live classes?

There are usually four live sessions per module, held on Saturdays at 9:00 and 16:00 CE(S)T. Optional "White Wednesday" cultural talks are mid-week. You can choose whichever Saturday slot works best for you each week; there's no need to commit in advance. All classes are recorded and shared privately via YouTube.

What if I miss a class?

If you know in advance, you can send your questions to the teacher. Afterward, you can catch up with the recording and review materials on Moodle.

Who are the teachers?

Beginner 102 is taught by Franziska Oertle, Gen Nat Thammamitr-la, and assistants. You'll also learn with tutors, your Small Learning Community (SLC), and weekly Tibetan conversation partners.

What materials are included?
  • Live classes with Tibetan instructors
  • Key-point videos (animated 5-min overviews)
  • Pre-recorded grammar webinars (1–3 per lesson)
  • Weekly SLC meetings
  • Weekly 1:1 conversation with native speakers
  • A digital practice lab
  • E-portfolio tasks
  • Dialogue podcasts, games, songs, flashcards (Anki)
  • "White Wednesday" cultural talks
  • A final challenge at the end of each module
Which textbook do I need?

We continue with The Heart of Tibetan Language, Volume 1 and the exercise book. Both are available as affordable ebooks on Google Play or as hard copies from Dharma Publishing, Vajra Bookstore in Kathmandu, Lotus Winkel in Holland, or Garuda Bookstore in Switzerland. Spanish and Portuguese translations are also available.

What platforms and tools are used?
  • Moodle for resources and assignments
  • Zoom for live classes
  • Gmail to share YouTube recordings and Google Doc
  • WhatsApp for tutor-class logistics
How much is tuition?

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

Can I pay in installments?

Yes. You can pay in installments if paying all at once is difficult. Contact us before registering so we can set this up.

Do you offer scholarships or sponsorships?

Yes. Monastics can apply for a discounted rate. Students with means are invited to add a $108 sponsorship to support others.

What is the refund policy?

If you withdraw and we can replace you with an auditor switching to full status, refunds are:

  • Module 1: 70%
  • Module 2: 65%
  • Module 3: 55%
  • Later: 40%

If we cannot replace you:

  • Module 1: 55%
  • Module 2: 40%
  • Module 3: 30%
  • Later: no refund