Summer Intensive Online Courses
This summer we are happy to continue to offer some of our Summer Intensive courses online and concurrently online with the on-campus course.
The Summer Intensive language courses are rigorous, enabling students to progress quickly on the path toward proficiency in their chosen language. Students are able to complete the equivalent of two semesters’ worth of coursework in eight weeks. Students should expect to spend an additional two hours outside of each class each day for homework and study.
To study online with RYI, students will need access to a PC, MA, or Linux computer capable of running Microsoft Teams which you can download free of charge.
All of the courses in the Summer Intensive are at the university level and can be taken for academic credit through Kathmandu University’s Centre for Buddhist Studies at RYI, earning 6 credits (12 ECTS). Courses may also be taken on a no-credit basis.
Beginning Classical Tibetan (TLAN 115) 6 Credits
| Beginning Classical Tibetan TLAN 115 | Hours per week | Section 2 Online (Nepal Time) | Section 3 Online (Nepal Time) |
| Master Class | Five 90-minute classes per week | Monday-Friday 1:00pm-2:30pm | Monday-Friday 8:45pm-10:15pm |
| Review Class* | Three one-hour classes per week | M-W-F 5:00pm – 6:00pm | M-W-F 4:15am – 5:15am |
Beginning Classical Tibetan is designed for students who have no previous experience with the Tibetan language. There are no prerequisites other than learning the Tibetan Alphabet. Upon enrollment, students will receive links to an online Tibetan alphabet course and there will be additional review classes during the summer orientation to ensure that students are prepared to start learning the language on the first day of class.
This course begins to introduce students to the basics of classical Tibetan grammar and vocabulary using Benjamin Collet-Cassart’s “Classical Tibetan Grammar Handbook”. After establishing some basic understanding of grammar, students then begin to read a variety of philosophical and practice texts. Students are led through the texts in a detailed and gradual manner so that even complete beginners are able to understand the meaning while building a basic vocabulary and gaining familiarity with the practice application of grammar using simple texts.
Intermediate Classical Tibetan (TLAN 215) 6 Credits
Intermediate Classical Tibetan is offered on campus this summer. The class assumes that students are familiar with all of the basic grammar structures of the language and have memorized a basic dharma vocabulary. Intermediate Classical Tibetan builds on the grammar, vocabulary, and reading skills learned in the beginning course, and is designed for students with at least two semesters of classical Tibetan or the equivalent. Like all of the summer intensive language courses, the Intermediate Classical Tibetan course is rigorous, enabling students to progress quickly. This intensive course allows students to complete the equivalent of two semesters’ worth of coursework in eight weeks, guiding students along the path toward proficiency in classical Tibetan in several different genres.
(Please check back soon for an updated class schedule)
Advanced Classical Tibetan Reading Seminar (RTIB 501/TLAN 315) 6 Credits
| Advanced Classical Tibetan, TLAN 315 (combined with Advanced Reading I -Tibetan, RTIB 501) | Hours per week | Section 1 On Campus (Nepal Time) | Section 2 Online (Concurrent class) (Nepal Time) |
| Master Reading Class | Ten 90-minute classes per week | Monday-Friday 11:00 am – 12:30 pm and 12:45 pm -2:15 pm | Monday-Friday 11:00 am – 12:30 pm and 12:45 pm -2:15 pm |
| Review Class | Five one-hour classes per week | Monday-Friday 3:45 pm – 4:45 pm | Monday-Friday 3:45 pm – 4:45 pm |
This summer we are pleased to announce that Rangjung Yeshe Institute and Khyentse Vision Project are collaborating to deliver a special Advanced Classical Tibetan Reading Seminar. This year’s eight-week course will focus on the works of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. Students will read texts from the Khyentse Wangpo collections with expert scholars and can expect to advance their knowledge of both the language and the philosophical, doctrinal, and historical issues under study.
Admission into the course requires the equivalent of four semesters or more of prior classical Tibetan study and is for students who wish to continue learning to read classical Tibetan texts of greater difficulty, with respect to both writing style and content and who are interested in learning more about translation theory and practice.
Beginning Colloquial Tibetan (TLAN 120) 6 credits
| Beginning Colloquial Tibetan, TLAN 120 | Hours per week | Section 3 Online (Nepal Time) |
| Master Class | Five 1.5-hour classes per week | Monday-Friday 7:30pm-9:00pm |
| Assistant Language Instructor (ALI) One-on-one classes | 10 one-hour classes per week (2 per day) | Individually allocated |
Like all of the summer intensive language courses, the Beginning Colloquial Tibetan course is rigorous, enabling students to progress quickly. This intensive course allows students to complete the equivalent of two semester’s worth of coursework in eight weeks, setting students on the path toward proficiency in colloquial Tibetan in both its spoken and written forms. There are no prerequisites, other than learning the Tibetan alphabet. After you enroll you’ll receive links to an online Tibetan alphabet course, and there are additional alphabet classes during summer orientation, so you are prepared to start learning the language on the first day of class.
Advanced Colloquial and Dharma Tibetan (TLAN 320) 6 credits
| Advanced Colloquial Tibetan, TLAN 320 | Hours per week | Section 3 Online (Nepal Time) |
| Master Class | Five one-hour classes per week | Monday-Friday 8:00p-9:00p |
| Text Class (taught by a monastic professor) | Five one-hour classes per week | Pre-recorded, available on demand |
| Assistant Language Instructor (ALI) One-on-one classes | Five one-hour classes per week | Individually allocated |
| Dharma Conversation (ALI) One-on-one classes | Five one-hour classes per week | Individually allocated |
Advanced Colloquial Tibetan is for students who wish to continue learning the modern spoken language while also learning to understand and use the Tibetan spoken by those giving Dharma teachings.
Admission into the course requires the equivalent of four semesters or more of prior colloquial Tibetan study and an interest in developing an understanding of Dharma Tibetan. The advanced program is taught in Tibetan only. The program’s unique strengths are twofold: first, to guide students to improve their spoken colloquial fluency, and second, to teach the language of Buddhist philosophy, as heard directly in Tibetan taught by a monastic professor. This design enables students to further pursue the study of philosophy in a classical Tibetan setting and prepares them to begin a course of oral interpretation from Tibetan to English.
Beginning Sanskrit (SLAN 120) 6 Credits
| Beginning Sanskrit, SLAN 120 | Hours per week | Section 2 Online Concurrent with On Campus Course (Nepal Time) | Section 3 Online (Nepal Time) |
| Master Grammar Class | Five 1.5-hour classes per week | Monday-Friday 11:00 am-12:30 pm | Monday-Friday 00:00 am-01:30 am |
| Traditional Class | Five 1-hour classes per week | Monday-Friday 2:45 pm-3:45 pm | Monday-Friday 8:15p – 9:15 pm |
| Grammar Review Class (Optional) | Three 1-hour classes per week | M-W-F 4:00 pm-5:00 pm | M-W-F 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm |
This intensive Beginning Sanskrit course is designed to facilitate the rapid acquisition of basic Sanskrit vocabulary and grammar for students with no prior knowledge of Sanskrit. This course will introduce the basics of Sanskrit grammar using both indigenous and Western pedagogical methods and terminology. By the end of the course, students will be able to work with original Sanskrit texts on their own.
Students are lead through the texts in a detailed and gradual manner to that even complete beginners will be able to access the meaning while building a basic vocabulary and gaining familiarity with the intricacies of Sanskrit grammar.
Beginning Sanskrit offers a Traditional Class that includes an introduction to the Devanāgarī script which students use in class and for homework and quizzes. These classes cover native pronunciation, basic conversational skills and an introduction to and chanting of Sanskrit meters and verses (śloka).
Intermediate Sanskrit (SLAN 220) 6 Credits
| Intermediate Sanskrit, SLAN 220 | Hours per week | Section 2 Online Concurrent with On Campus Course (Nepal Time) | Section 3 Online (Nepal Time) |
| Master Grammar Class | Five 1.5-hour classes per week | Monday-Friday 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm | Monday-Friday 9:00 pm-10:30 pm |
| Traditional Class | Five 45 min classes per week | Monday-Friday 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm | Monday-Friday 6:45 pm – 7:30 pm |
| Grammar Review Class (Optional) | Two one-hour classes per week | T, Th 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm | T, Th 7:45 pm – 8:45 pm |
This intensive course is offered for intermediate-level students who have at least two semesters of prior study of Sanskrit. It is designed to complete the study of Sanskrit grammar and increase reading proficiency.
The first half of the course will be spent finishing the stud of grammar. For the remaining half of the course, students will prepare translations of assigned Sanskrit texts for discussion in class. The choice of texts will include a variety of genres including Buddhist Sanskrit texts (epics, dramas, philosophy, inspirational tales, etc.)
The course also includes a Traditional Class which will cover native pronunciation, conversational skills and the chanting of Sanskrit meters and verses śloka).
