Continue where 201 left off · Live in 2027

Continue where Intermediate 201 left off, into confident, flexible Tibetan

Six modules of upper-intermediate grammar, reported speech, nominalizers, and relative clauses, plus real-life vocabulary like health, animals, and pilgrimage, that round out everything you built in Intermediate 201. Conversations get longer, more accurate, and more flexible from here.

Join 300+ students, guided since 2021

At a glance

Intermediate 202 at a glance

Over six modules (Lessons 16–20, plus review), you'll consolidate everything from 201 and push into Upper Intermediate grammar: reported speech, nominalizers, and relative clauses, alongside real-life topics like health, animals, and pilgrimage. You'll keep practicing one-on-one with your tutor every week, inside the same small group that's carried you this far. It's where holding a conversation turns into relaying one, the last piece of grammar Intermediate has to teach.

Modules 6 (Lessons 16–20 + review)

Format Live + Tutor + Moodle

Time Commitment ~10–12 hrs/week here's how it breaks down ↓

Starting point You've completed Intermediate 201 or have equivalent grammar and conversation skills

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 Intermediate 202, you will:

A learner studying Tibetan manuals in the park

Consolidate everything from Intermediate 201, and build into Upper Intermediate structures like reported speech, nominalizers, and relative clauses

Grow your vocabulary into new territory: health, animals, and pilgrimage traditions

A learner speaking with a Tibetan woman in Dharamshala

Hold longer, more accurate conversations, with real flexibility

A live Zoom session with many students learning Tibetan together

Practice relaying what's said in Tibetan, not just holding your end of a conversation, the last grammar piece Intermediate has to offer

A peek inside

A Peek Inside Intermediate 202

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, small-group support, and one-on-one time with a native speaker: this is where Upper Intermediate grammar starts sounding like something you'd actually say.

One-on-one tutor sessions with a native Tibetan speaker The single feature our students call a game changer.

Weekly live classes, in two time slots, plus a live forum discussion on cultural and meta-cognitive topics
Small Learning Communities (SLCs): about 4 students who meet weekly, often the same group since Beginner or 201
White Wednesday Talks (optional), on Tibetan culture

Study Resources

Key-point videos (5–10 minutes)
Grammar webinars (30–60 minutes, with detailed explanations)
Dialogues, songs, and end-of-module challenges
Rubrics for self-assessment

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

Digital Tools

Anki flashcards with audio and example sentences
Memrise decks
Language-lab style speaking practice and interactive exercises on Moodle

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 IT HelpDesk support
Class recordings for every session, shared via YouTube
Send your questions ahead if you'll miss a class

Our methodology

A Method Built to Finally Make Tibetan Click

Intermediate 202 continues the course Franziska Oertle designed, the teacher her students say "cracked the code" of teaching Tibetan, and taught live by Bhargavi Viswanath and Lhakpa Tsering. 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 and 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 Intermediate 202 cohort.

This course is very complete with materials about grammar, vocabulary, readings, and audios. The methodology is well structured and the team (teachers and tutors) is very supportive.

Intermediate 202 student

Great course, as always. I never thought I could learn Tibetan. I was looking since years to a course and this is the first time I feel I can keep up with it and achieve many of my aims.

Intermediate 202 student

Meet the team

Your Learning Team

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

Bhargavi Viswanath

Teacher

Holds a master's in Tibetan history from Columbia, and has studied Tibetan at Esukhia, Tibet University, and Rangjung Yeshe Institute. Teaches the live Intermediate 202 classes, built on the course Franziska Oertle designed.

Lhakpa Tsering

Teacher

Nepal-born Buddhist scholar with a Shastri in Buddhist philosophy and an Acharya in Tibetan linguistics. Also teaches the live Intermediate 202 classes.

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. The extra week built into every module here follows his lead.

Ms. Giraffe

Nerdy grammar scout.

P.S.

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

Worried the grammar's getting harder to keep up with?

Upper Intermediate grammar, reported speech, nominalizers, relative clauses, is genuinely more layered than what came before. That's exactly why each module here runs a full four weeks: extra room to absorb it at your own pace, what our students call the "Mr. Sloth pace." Most of the ~10–12 hours a week still fit around your life:

Live class
Your 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 still genuinely part of the method here, and Mr. Sloth's job doesn't change: there's always a way to learn at your own pace, especially now.

Many of our Intermediate students are busy people with no Tibetan community anywhere near them, some don't do anything Tibetan-related in their day job, and they still get there. We've seen students as far as South America build real fluency without ever setting foot in a Tibetan-speaking community.

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

Flexible option

Prefer a lighter commitment? Audit the course

If a lighter commitment suits you better, you can audit the course. Auditors follow the same weekly pace as full students, joining an SLC, a tutor class, and self-study, with access to Moodle resources and recordings. You won't attend the Saturday live classes (except the forum) or receive teacher feedback, and tuition is lower. We just ask that you keep up with the group so your SLC stays lively and supportive.

Practical details

Practical Details

Everything you need to know before enrolling

Prerequisites

Completion of Intermediate 201, or equivalent studies
Comfortable talking about everyday topics in Tibetan using past, present, and future tenses
Familiarity with key grammar: conditionals, modal verbs, connectives, and auxiliaries of probability
Newcomers: a short entrance video (partly in Tibetan, partly in English) to confirm your level and tech skills

Tuition & Financial Support

Sliding scale tuition: $475 minimum
Monastic rate: $325
Auditing version: $300 ($225 for monastics)
Payment plans and scholarships 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 1 — 70%
Module 2 — 65%
Module 3 — 55%
Later — 40%

If we can't fill your spot

Module 1 — 55%
Module 2 — 40%
Module 3 — 30%
Later — no refund

Discover the textbook that accompanies this course

The Heart of Tibetan Language, Vol. 2

Lessons 16–20, with accompanying workbook

Look inside (sample pages) Coming soon Order hardcopy Order in Europe via Vajra Bookstore Get eBook on Google Play

Why Intermediate 202

Why Choose Intermediate 202

Intermediate 202 is where everything you built in 201 locks into place. Upper Intermediate grammar, reported speech, nominalizers, relative clauses, gives your Tibetan real range, and your vocabulary grows into new territory: health, animals, and pilgrimage. You'll hold longer, more accurate conversations, and finish Intermediate with real flexibility and confidence. With small groups, a tutor of your own, and the same playful, no-pressure method that got you this far, you'll keep growing and enjoying the process.

Continues right where 201 left off Your own native tutor A method that clicks

Next cohort

When Does Intermediate 202 Start?

Intermediate 202 runs live in 2027. We'll confirm exact dates as soon as they're set.

Ready to begin

Ready to Finish What You Started in Intermediate?

Join our next Intermediate 202 cohort, and finish Intermediate with real fluency and confidence.

Haven't finished Intermediate 201 yet? Start there first →

Before you start

Intermediate 202 FAQ

The questions we hear most, answered.

What is Intermediate 202?

Intermediate 202 is the Upper Intermediate Course. It continues from Intermediate 201, starting with a short review, then covering Lessons 16–20 of The Heart of Tibetan Language, Volume 2.

Who can join Intermediate 202?

Alumni of Intermediate 201 are ready to continue. Auditing students of Intermediate 201 can join Intermediate 202 as full students if they attend the review sessions or submit a short entrance presentation video. New students need to show they can speak at a basic to lower-intermediate level and know grammar like conditionals, modal verbs, connectives, and auxiliaries of probability. Everyone who hasn't studied with us before submits a short entrance video, partly in Tibetan, partly in English, to confirm their level and tech skills.

What will I learn during Intermediate 202?

You'll deepen your grammar with reported speech, nominalizers, and relative clauses, and grow your vocabulary into topics like health, animals, and pilgrimage. By the end, you'll hold longer, more accurate conversations with real flexibility, the same structures a real explanation is built from.

How much time should I plan each week?

Plan for about 10–12 hours a week: live classes, self-study, practice with your learning group, and your weekly 1:1 with a native speaker. See "Worried the grammar's getting harder to keep up with?" above for how it actually breaks down.

How long is each module?

Each module runs for four weeks, the "Mr. Sloth pace," extra room to absorb Upper Intermediate grammar and practice it comfortably.

When are the live classes?

There are four live sessions per module, all on Saturdays, in two time slots (morning and evening CE(S)T). You can choose week by week, no need to commit in advance. One live session per module is a forum discussion focused on soft skills. Optional White Wednesday cultural talks are also included.

What if I miss a class?

All live sessions are recorded and shared via Moodle or YouTube. Send your questions ahead of time if you know you'll miss a class.

Who are the teachers?

Intermediate 202 continues the course Franziska Oertle designed and is taught live by Bhargavi Viswanath and Lhakpa Tsering. You'll also work with native speaker tutors and your SLC.

What materials are included?

Live classes with practice, games, songs, and discussions; key-point videos with your non-human companions; grammar webinars; a live forum on soft skills; weekly SLC meetings; weekly 1:1 conversation with native speakers; a digital practice lab; an e-Portfolio for reflection; Anki flashcards and Memrise decks; and end-of-module challenges.

Which textbook do I need?

We use The Heart of Tibetan Language, Volume 2, plus the exercise book. Hard copies are available from Dharma Publishing (US) or Vajra Bookstore (Kathmandu). eBooks are also available at an affordable rate.

What platforms and tools are used?

Moodle for resources and assignments, Zoom for live classes, YouTube for recordings, Gmail and Google Drive for sharing, and WhatsApp for tutor classes and conversation partners.

How much is tuition?

Tuition follows a sliding scale. The minimum fee for Intermediate 202 is $475. Monastics can apply for a sponsored rate ($325). Auditing is available for $300 ($225 for monastics). You can also pay in installments, contact us before registering.

Do you offer scholarships or sponsorships?

Yes. Monastics can apply for a discounted rate, and students with means are invited 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 1, 70%. Module 2, 65%. Module 3, 55%. Later, 40%. If we can't replace you, refunds are smaller: Module 1, 55%. Module 2, 40%. Module 3, 30%. Later, no refund.

Not sure this is your level?

If you haven't completed Intermediate 201 yet, start there first. Intermediate 202 assumes you're already comfortable with conditionals, modal verbs, and everyday vocabulary. Ready to go further? Advanced 301 continues where 202 leaves off.