Self-Paced · Start Anytime

Your first step into Tibetan, on your own schedule

Learn to read, pronounce, and hold your first conversations in Tibetan with the same textbook and teaching method behind our live courses, whenever and wherever you have the time.

See the two packages

Join 300+ students, guided since 2021
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What you'll learn

What You'll Learn

Self-paced learning gives you the freedom to study Tibetan on your own schedule, using the same trusted structure as our live courses: The Heart of Tibetan Language, Volume 1, designed by Franziska Oertle. Whether you want the full set of resources or prefer to focus on webinars and key-point videos, you'll find clear explanations, engaging media, and practical tools to help you build a strong foundation, one lesson at a time, whenever you have the time for it.

By completing the Beginner self-paced package, you'll be able to:

A learner reading Tibetan script

Read and pronounce Tibetan script with more confidence

A learner working through Tibetan grammar

Form simple sentences using correct Tibetan grammar

Two people having a simple conversation in Tibetan

Hold simple conversations in everyday situations

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Build a foundation you can carry into a live course or independent practice

A peek inside

A Peek Inside Beginner 101 & 102

Watch a key-point video or a webinar snapshot, and meet Mr. Sloth, Ms. Giraffe, and the rest of your non-human classmates before you even sign up.

Choose your package

Choose Your Package

Both packages follow The Heart of Tibetan Language, Volume 1, and cover the same ground: Lessons 0 through 10, alphabet through your first real conversations. The difference is how much support and practice you get along the way.

Recommended
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Beginner Full Package

Everything you need from The Heart of Tibetan Language, Volume 1, Lessons 0 through 10. Start with Lower Beginner (Lessons 0–5) or Upper Beginner (Lessons 6–10), whichever fits where you are. You'll have access to both.

What's included:

  • Animated key-point videos for each lesson
  • Engaging grammar webinars
  • Dialogue podcasts
  • Anki decks with vocabulary, audio, and images
  • Practice exercises: listening, reading, vocabulary
  • Digital speaking practice in Moodle
  • Rubrics and reflection prompts to track your progress

Use these materials for self-study, or to prepare for Beginner 102 or Intermediate 201.

30% discount for ordained Sangha (email us for a coupon)

Sliding scale from $165

Get Full Package
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Beginner Webinars & Key-Point Videos

A lighter way to cover the same ground: the video explanations, without the Anki decks and practice exercises.

What's included:

  • Key-point videos, one per lesson (4–6 minutes)
  • 25+ grammar webinars (12–18 minutes each), with clear explanations and Mr. Sloth, Ms. Giraffe, and the rest of your playful non-human classmates
  • Covers Lessons 0–10: the alphabet, the བདག་/གཞན་ system, tenses, imperatives, numbers, and the calendar. Lesson 0 also covers metacognition, learning how to learn.

Not included, but part of the Full Package: Anki decks, dialogue podcasts, practice exercises, and digital speaking practice in Moodle.

35% discount for ordained Sangha (email us for a coupon)

Sliding scale from $85

Get Webinar Package

A note before you start

Important Note

These resources are supplements. They're clear and creative, but they don't replace live conversation and community. Learning a language is a social undertaking. That's why we encourage you to combine them with a course, a small study group, or a tutor.

Who it's for

Who It's For

These self-paced resources are for anyone who wants to start speaking and reading Tibetan with flexibility: clear, step-by-step guidance you can follow on your own schedule.

They're also a strong companion if you're already taking Tibetan lessons elsewhere, or preparing to join one of our live Beginner or Intermediate courses.

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The Heart of Tibetan Language, Vol. 1 — cover

Discover the Textbook That Accompanies These Resources

The Heart of Tibetan Language, Vol. 1

with accompanying workbook

Look inside (sample pages) Coming soon Order hardcopy Get eBook on Google Play

What learners say

What Self-Paced Learners Say

A few words from learners who studied at their own pace.

Self-paced, online availability, so one can go back and revise things.
a Self-Paced Beginner student
The opportunity to do it online and in my own pace.
a Self-Paced Beginner student

Ready to begin

Ready to Begin Your Journey?

Join learners studying Tibetan on their own schedule, wherever they are in the world, and start building your foundation today.

Get Full Package Get Webinar Package

Before you start

Self-Paced Beginner FAQ

The questions we hear most, answered.

What's the difference between the Full Package and Webinars Only?
Both cover the same ground, Lessons 0–10 of The Heart of Tibetan Language, Volume 1. The Full Package adds the tools to practice and track your progress: Anki decks, dialogue podcasts, exercises, and digital speaking practice in Moodle. Webinars Only gives you the video explanations alone, a lighter way to cover the same material.
How much time should I plan each week?
There's no fixed pace. Some learners move through a lesson a week, others take longer. The Full Package includes more material to work through than Webinars Only, so plan accordingly.
Do I need to already be able to read Tibetan script?
If you're starting from zero, our Learning to Read course covers the alphabet and pronunciation first. Beginner self-paced then builds on that foundation.
Is there a discount for monastics?
Yes. Ordained Sangha get 30% off the Full Package and 35% off Webinars Only. Email us for a coupon.
Can I combine this with a live course?
Yes. Many learners use these resources to prepare for a live Beginner or Intermediate course, or alongside lessons they're already taking elsewhere. They're built to support real conversation and community, not replace it.
Which textbook do I need?
The Heart of Tibetan Language, Volume 1, plus the exercise book. Available as an eBook on Google Play, or as a hardcopy order.