Undergraduate Course: Introducing Classical Tibetan (blended learning) (DIVI07013)
Course Outline
| School | School of Divinity |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course introduces students to the fundamental structures of Classical Tibetan, including grammar, syntax, and essential vocabulary. Students will develop reading and translation skills with an emphasis on Buddhist texts and classical prose. The course is designed for absolute beginners and aims to establish a solid foundation in Classical Tibetan for further study. |
| Course description |
Academic Description
This course provides an introduction to Classical Tibetan, focusing on its grammatical structures, syntax, and translation methods. Students will engage with Tibetan script, phonetics, and foundational grammar, progressively building the skills necessary to read and interpret Classical Tibetan texts. The course will combine structured language instruction and translation exercises with discussions of key linguistic and philosophical concepts.
Outline Content
The course will begin with an introduction to the Tibetan script and phonetics, ensuring students develop a solid foundation in reading and pronunciation. It will then progress to basic grammatical structures, covering nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and particles, allowing students to construct and comprehend simple sentences. In addition, sentence formation and comprehension exercises will reinforce these concepts, helping students gain confidence in reading and interpreting Classical Tibetan. The course will also introduce common Buddhist terminology and expressions, providing essential vocabulary for engaging with Tibetan Buddhist texts. Furthermore, students will learn fundamental translation techniques and syntax analysis, enabling them to navigate complex sentence structures and understand the nuances of translation. Finally, they will critically engage with selected short Classical Tibetan texts. By the end of the course, students will have developed the linguistic skills necessary for further study and independent engagement with Tibetan literature and Buddhist traditions.
Student Learning Experience
All students will experience a structured learning model combining a single two-hour weekly live class (delivered on campus but hybrid) with structured asynchronous materials. These online resources will be equivalent to two additional class hours per week, supplemented by assigned homework. This uniform structure ensures parity in learning experience across different levels and delivery modes.
Weekly homework assignments will reinforce the learning material, and interactive sessions will translation exercises, and discussions. Assessment will include quizzes, independent translation, and an end-of-course online exam that requires translation and grammatical analysis of selected passages.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Not available to visiting students |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Online Activities 22,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
149 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
50 %,
Coursework
50 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Mid-term test (20%)
Independent Translation - 500-word translation assignment of a short passage with grammatical analysis. (30%)
Final Online Exam (50%)
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| Feedback |
Students will receive continuous feedback through automated quizzes and instructor comments. Interactive discussion forums will allow for peer support and engagement. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Recognize and accurately transcribe Tibetan script and phonetics.
- Identify and use fundamental grammatical structures.
- Apply basic translation techniques in an online learning environment.
- Read and comprehend Buddhist terms and simple sentences in Classical Tibetan.
- Demonstrate competence in digital tools for Tibetan language learning and transcription.
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Reading List
Bentor, Yael. 2014. A Classical Tibetan Reader: Selections from Renowned Works with Custom. Wisdom Publications.
Bialek, Joanna. 2022. A Textbook in Classical Tibetan. 1st edition. London New York: Routledge.
Hackett, Paul. 2019. Learning Classical Tibetan: A Reader for Translating Buddhist Texts. Annotated edition. Boulder: Snow Lion Publications.
Preston, Craig. 2009. How to Read Classical Tibetan, Vol. 2: Buddhist Tenets. Illustrated edition. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion Publications.
Wilson, Joe B. 2012. Translating Buddhism from Tibetan: Introduction to the Tibetan Literary Language and Translation of Buddhist Texts. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion Publications.
The Monlam Online Dictionary: https://monlamdictionary.com/
Tibetan Translation Tool: https://www.thlib.org/reference/dictionaries/tibetan-dictionary/translate.php
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Curiosity for learning and openness to different perspectives
Willingness to engage across disciplinary boundaries and to approach sources in new ways
Self-discipline and structured learning through linguistic study
Analytical thinking through grammar and translation exercises
Critical engagement with Buddhist and historical texts
Ability to construct an argument concisely |
| Keywords | Tibetan,Buddhism,Himalayan Studies |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Upali Sraman
Tel:
Email: usraman@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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