Learn to Read

The Tibetan Alphabet and Reading Pre-Course

The Tibetan Alphabet and Reading Pre-Course is designed to help you learn to read and pronounce Tibetan script fluently, following the Central Tibetan dialect.

This course is a prerequisite for students who want to join Beginner 101. If you already know how to read Tibetan (for example, through Classical Tibetan studies), you don't need to take this pre-course. But if you cannot yet read, this step is essential before starting the main program.

Students who simply want to learn to read Tibetan script, without continuing into Beginner 101, are also warmly welcome!

Duration

6 weeks

Format

Live + Tutor

Schedule

Wed & Sat (2x/week)

Prerequisite

None

Course Structure

Duration

6 weeks

Format

Saturday August 1st, 2026 – Saturday September 5, 2026

2 live classes per week (Wednesdays & Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. CEST)
1 one-on-one tutor session per week with a native Tibetan-speaking tutor
Small learning groups for daily/bi-daily reading tasks with a buddy

You can choose the time slot that is more convenient to you, it does not need to always be the same and you don't need to let us know which one you'll join.

Curriculum

Developed by རྒན་ Anastasia Stoliarova ལགས། (different methodology from the main courses)

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, you will:

Read and transliterate the Tibetan དབུ་ཅན། script confidently

Pronounce Tibetan script accurately in the Central dialect

Work collaboratively with peers in small groups to reinforce skills

Be able to read a wide range of Tibetan texts, including Sanskrit mantras written in Tibetan script

Who Can Join?

This course is for complete beginners with no prior knowledge of Tibetan script. It's perfect for students planning to join Beginner 101, or for anyone who simply wants to learn to read the Tibetan script.

Tuition

SINI is a non-profit organization with a mission to preserve Tibetan culture and Dharma, to build Bridges of Goodness through education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and cultural exchange. It is important to us to make our courses accessible to everyone who wishes to study the Tibetan language. We try our best to keep costs as reasonable as possible.

The price for the Alphabet and Reading Pre-Course is $150. This includes all the materials, live classes and six 1:1 tutor sessions.

MONASTIC RATE

We offer scholarships to support the continuation of the monastic tradition. Please see the course listing especially for monastics to access that sponsored tuition rate. The monastic rate is $120.