Starts September 13, 2026

Your first real step toward understanding your teachers

Learn to read, pronounce, and hold your first conversations in Tibetan. It's the foundation everything else stands on, including, one day, following your teachers' words in their own language.

Join 300+ students, guided since 2021

A learner studying Tibetan at home with her laptop

At a glance

Beginner 101 at a glance

Six modules take you from your first Tibetan letter to holding real conversations about everyday life — practicing one-on-one with a native speaker every week.

Modules 6 (Module 0–5)

Format Live + Tutor + Moodle

Time Commitment ~10 hrs/week here's how it breaks down ↓

Starting point You can read Tibetan script or take the Alphabet Pre-Course first

Small groups of ~4
Weekly 1:1 with a native tutor
A method that finally clicks

What you'll achieve

What You'll Achieve

By the end of Beginner 101, you will:

Read and pronounce the Tibetan script with confidence

A learner working through Tibetan grammar

Understand the logic behind Tibetan grammar, including the བདག་གཞན། system, and see why it works that way

Two people having a simple conversation in Tibetan

Hold your first simple conversations about school, family, and daily life

A learner continuing to study Tibetan on her own

Take your first step toward understanding your teachers, and learn how to keep learning on your own

A peek inside

A Peek Inside Beginner 101

Watch a key-point video or a webinar snapshot, and meet your non-human classmates before you even sign up.

What's included

What You'll Get in This Course

Students from around the world together in a live SINI class call

Live Learning

Weekly live classes and small-group support — where the language becomes real.

1:1 with a native Tibetan speaker, every week The single feature our students call a game changer.

Weekly live classes
Small Learning Communities (SLC): ~4 students who meet weekly and become real study partners
White Wednesday Talks (optional), on Tibetan culture

Study Resources

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

The non-human classmates who make games, songs, and practice stick

Digital Tools

Anki flashcards
Interactive exercises
Games
Songs
Lab-like speaking practice

The Moodle learning platform, where you follow your progress on any device

Support & Progress

E-Portfolio with personal feedback from your teacher
Moodle platform, on any device, with tech support
Class recordings for every session
Send your questions ahead if you'll miss a class

Our methodology

A Method Built to Finally Make Tibetan Click

Beginner 101 is built on the course Franziska Oertle designed — the teacher her students say "cracked the code" of teaching Tibetan. It's taught live by Nat Thammamitr and the team. Instead of forcing Tibetan into Latin-style rules, it teaches the language from the inside out, and always explains why. It's rigorous — and there are no tests, no pressure.

Dr. Fink's Taxonomy

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

Soft Skills

We also give real attention to soft skills: reflection, self-awareness, collaboration, and empathy. You'll keep an e-Portfolio and share reflections in forums, tracking your growth as a person alongside your progress in Tibetan.

Joy and Humor

Joy and humor are built into the method itself. A smile, a little laughter, and curiosity keep learning light while the real progress happens underneath.

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

What learners say

What Our Learners Say

A few words from our Beginner 101 cohort.

Amazing course, very interactive, modern, and carefully designed. The whole team is very caring; I always felt supported.

Everything is excellent, the materials, the teachers, the structure, and how the program is done.

It is easy to see that a great deal of thought went into the organization and development of this course; it strikes the right balance!

The beginners course has been my first shaky steps into the world of Tibetan. It is a very nice welcome, a foundation I can build on.

A wonderful course. It brings in an element of community that makes learning enjoyable and consistent. The tutors were great and patient.

SINI pairs you up with a native Tibetan tutor for regular, live tutorials via WhatsApp. This is a game changer in learning!

Charlie S.2026

I heard very good things about the course, and I liked the description of it on the website. I really enjoyed the alphabet pre-course, which encouraged me to continue.

Anna R.2023

Meet the team

Your Learning Team

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

Nat Thammamitr

Lead Teacher

Dedicated to sharing the beauty of Tibetan language and culture. Leads the live Beginner 101 classes, built on the course Franziska Oertle designed.

Tutor Team

Native speaker tutors

Kind, patient speakers in India & Nepal.

Meet your non-human classmates

Every class comes with a few extra students — here to keep the pace kind and the grammar playful.

Mr. Sloth

Here to remind you there's always a way to learn at your own pace. Slowing down here is allowed too.

Ms. Giraffe

Our resident nerdy grammar scout. She spots the pattern before you do.

P.S.

Pets are welcome learning buddies too. They're patient listeners who never complain about a grammar mistake.

Worried about the time? Or that there's no one nearby to speak Tibetan with?

Most of the ~10 hours a week fit around your life:

~2 hours of live class
One 1:1 with your tutor
Your small-group meeting
Self-study, on your own schedule

Miss a Saturday? Every class is recorded, you can pick either time slot week to week, and you can send your questions ahead.

Rest is genuinely built into the method. You set goals you can actually reach right now — and you'll meet Mr. Sloth, whose whole job is to remind you there's always a way to learn at your own pace.

Many of our students are busy people with no Tibetan community nearby. They still get there, one small step at a time.

Mr. Sloth, the learning companion who reminds you to go at your own pace

Flexible option

Prefer a lighter commitment? Audit the course

Auditors keep the same weekly pace as full students — an SLC, a tutor class, and self-study, with Moodle resources and recordings. You skip the Saturday live classes (except the forum) and teacher feedback, and tuition is lower. We just ask that you keep up, so your SLC stays lively.

Practical details

Practical Details

Everything you need to know before enrolling

Prerequisites

Ability to read and pronounce Tibetan script (དབུ་ཅན།)
No speaking skills required, we start with simple phrases
Can't read the script yet? Join the Alphabet Pre-Course first
An open, curious mindset for online group learning

Tuition & Financial Support

Sliding scale tuition: $475 minimum
Alphabet Pre-Course: $150 minimum
Auditing version: $300 ($225 for monastics)
Monastic rate: $325
Payment plans and sponsor option available

Sliding scale

Pay what you can, starting from the listed minimums.

Monastic discount

A dedicated scholarship for monks and nuns.

Payment in installments

Pay in a few installments — just contact us to arrange it before registering.

Sponsor option

Add $108 to support fellow students and help sustain the program.

Refund Policy

Refund depends on withdrawal timing
Up to 70% refund if leaving during Module 1
Reduced percentages as the course continues

See the full refund schedule

If we can fill your spot from the waiting list

Module 0 — 70%
Module 1 — 65%
Module 2 — 55%
Later — 40%

If we can't fill your spot

Module 0 — 55%
Module 1 — 40%
Module 2 — 30%
Later — no refund

Discover the textbook that accompanies this course

The Heart of Tibetan Language, Vol. 1

with accompanying workbook

Look inside (sample pages) Coming soon Order hardcopy Order from Vajra Bookshop Get eBook on Google Play Get the Audio files

Why Beginner 101

Why Choose Beginner 101

You get more than grammar and vocabulary. A supportive community, a native tutor of your own, and a method built to make Tibetan finally click — all pointing to the same place: the day you follow your teachers in their own words.

Small groups, real support Your own native tutor A method that clicks

Next cohort

When Does the Next Course Start?

Opening Ceremony

Sunday, 13th of September 2026

First Class

Saturday, 19th of September

Closing Ceremony

March 2027

Ready to begin

Ready to Start Your Tibetan Journey?

Join our next Beginner 101 cohort, and take your first real step toward speaking, and one day understanding, Tibetan.

Before you start

Beginner 101 FAQ

The questions we hear most, answered.

What is Beginner 101?

Beginner 101 is the first part of our Heart of Tibetan Language program. It includes Modules 0–5 and gives you a solid foundation in colloquial Tibetan. You'll learn through live classes, key-point videos, grammar webinars, practice with peers, and weekly 1:1 conversations with native speakers.

Do I need to know Tibetan before I join?

You need to be able to read and pronounce the Tibetan script. Speaking skills are not required. We'll start with simple phrases. If you don't read Tibetan yet, take the Alphabet & Reading Pre-Course first.

What will I learn during Beginner 101?

You'll build a solid understanding of Tibetan grammar, including the བདག་གཞན། system, and hold simple conversations about school, family, and your home country. You'll also grow your meta-cognitive skills, learning how to learn.

How much time should I plan each week?

Plan for about 10 hours a week: live classes, self-study, practice with your learning group, and your weekly 1:1 with a native speaker. Most of that fits around your life. See "Worried about the time?" above for how it actually breaks down.

How long is each module?

Modules in Beginner 101 run for 4 weeks. This pace balances steady progress with time to review.

When are the live classes?

There are four live sessions per module, every Saturday. Two time slots are offered, so you can pick what works best each week, and you don't need to commit to one slot in advance. All live classes are recorded in case you can't attend live.

What if I miss a class?

Send your questions ahead of time and watch the recording afterward. Recordings are shared privately with enrolled students.

Who are the teachers?

Beginner 101 is built on the course Franziska Oertle designed and taught live by Gen Nat Thammamitr, Gen Melissa Katz, and Gen Bhargavi Viswanath. You'll also be supported by tutors, your Small Learning Community, and weekly Tibetan conversation partners.

What materials are included?

Live classes with teachers, key-point videos for every lesson, 1 to 4 pre-recorded grammar webinars per lesson, weekly SLC meetings, weekly 1:1 sessions with native speakers, a digital practice lab, an e-Portfolio to track your learning, Anki flashcards, games, songs, podcasts, and optional White Wednesday cultural talks.

Which textbook do I need?

We use The Heart of Tibetan Language, Volume 1, plus the exercise book. You can buy them as eBooks on Google Play, or order the hard copy from Dharma Publishing, Vajra Bookstore in Kathmandu, Lotus Winkel in Holland, or Garuda Bookstore in Switzerland.

What platforms and tools are used?

Moodle for resources and assignments, Zoom for live classes, Gmail to share recordings, and WhatsApp for tutor-class logistics.

How much is tuition?

Tuition follows a sliding scale. The minimum fee for Beginner 101 is $475. The Alphabet Pre-Course is $150. Monastics can apply for a sponsored rate ($325). Auditing is available for $300 ($225 for monastics). You can also pay in installments.

Do you offer scholarships or sponsorships?

Yes. We offer scholarships for monastics, and invite students with means to add a $108 sponsorship to help others join.

What is the refund policy?

If you withdraw and we can replace you from the waiting list, you'll receive a partial refund: Module 0, 70%. Module 1, 65%. Module 2, 55%. Later, 40%. If we can't replace you, refunds are smaller: Module 0, 55%. Module 1, 40%. Module 2, 30%. Later, no refund.

Not sure this is your level?

If you can't yet read Tibetan script, start with the Alphabet Pre-Course. If you've already completed Beginner 101, Beginner 102 continues where this course leaves off.