Program Design
The 6-week program includes intensive modern Tibetan language classes coinciding with field application, lectures on various topics by local experts and program directors focusing on a particular thematic or geographic area, various written and oral assignments, and a final written paper.
Tibetan Language Study (Asian Studies 351)
This 3-credit course will enhance the student’s comprehension of and facility with modern colloquial Tibetan as it is spoken in Central Tibet. It is a supplement to the University’s 4-year Tibetan language track, providing a unique opportunity to study within a native Tibetan-language-speaking environment. The course comprises both classroom study and field-based language activities, with an emphasis on pronunciation, oral-aural comprehension, and proficiency with basic grammatical structures. Students will also develop reading and writing skills of the Tibetan print called ‘u-chen’ in order to use classroom materials and complete homework assignments.
The course will use selections from "Manual of Standard
Tibetan" by Nicolas Tournadre and Sangdak Dorje, which will
be supplemented where appropriate with other Tibetan language
texts and tools. Grades will be determined on the basis of active
class participation, completion of daily written homework exercises,
weekly oral and written quizzes, and field-based language exercises
(i.e. use in the marketplace, at restaurants, etc.) throughout
the program.
Lecture Series and Seminar on Tibetan History and Culture (Asian
Studies 350)
This 3-credit seminar draws on selected local resources to information about and insight into the host country culture and relevant contemporary issues. The core of the course is a lecture series given by local academics, other knowledgeable professionals, and the program directors. Lectures are supplemented by required readings, oral and written assignments, educational excursions, and related activities. Seminar lectures are held at local cultural centers, educational institutions, and on site during visits to important religious and historical sites.
The seminar also incorporates guided field-study projects throughout the semester. These projects will introduce the student to basic elements of field-study (such as keeping a field journal and using translators), affording an opportunity for sustained cross-cultural interaction in a variety of settings.
Readings and classroom materials will draw on a wide range of historical, anthropological, sociological, and religious materials as well as unique in-country resources. Lecture topics may include:
- early religious history
- ancient and modern geographical frontiers
- ethnic and cultural boundaries
- contemporary social and political developments
- plastic and performing arts
- Tibetan Buddhism and its practical application in Tibetan culture
- sacred geography
- Tibetan medicine; and
- diaspora issues
Grades will be determined on the basis of class participation
and discussion, field exercises, several brief (1-2 page) writing
assignments, a short (7 page) final paper, and an oral presentation.
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