This intensive fifteen-month Tibetan language program is spread over two years. Students will be trained in colloquial and classical Tibetan and will receive a thorough introduction to Sanskrit. The aim of the program is to develop text translators who can then begin hands-on training on a translation project alongside a Tibetan scholar.

Program Description
This program is designed to provide a comprehensive training in the Tibetan language within a concentrated period of time. All aspects of the Tibetan language will be covered; however, an emphasis will be placed on translating classical Buddhist texts. Participants will also receive a thorough introduction to Sanskrit consisting of accredited introductory 101- and 102-level courses designed for international students.

The program is divided into three phases. The first 10 weeks will be an intensive colloquial crash course to get students conversing in Tibetan. The second phase will gradually introduce classical grammar and build a general vocabulary. The last phase of the program will focus on specific vocabulary and translation skills within the major Tibetan Buddhist literary genres.

SOTIP participants will have a conversation partner throughout the program to help them improve their colloquial speaking skills. Students will also be trained in reading and writing the Umed script. The program will be complemented by two month-long workshops on translating Buddhist texts. These will be led by Western scholar-translators and introduce different approaches to translation. The course will be limited to a maximum of 15 participants to ensure a low student/teacher ratio.

Faculty
The teaching faculty consists of experienced translators and Tibetan language teachers with years of experience teaching international students.

Khenpo Dr. Ngawang Jorden will be the main instructor for the program. Other specialized instructors will join us for different portions of the program. These include colloquial dialogues, a brief introduction to calligraphy, oral interpretation, genre-specific translation, etc. Lay and ordained Tibetans will serve as conversation partners.

Venue
The courses will be conducted at the International Buddhist Academy in Kathmandu, Nepal. The modern IBA campus houses a large teaching hall, spacious classrooms, basketball and badminton courts, beautiful lawns and comfortable, furnished bedrooms with balconies overlooking the Kathmandu Valley. Students can bring a laptop computer to facilitate their studies, and wireless Internet is available for their convenience. There is a natural water filtration system, and the kitchen staff provides a variety of healthy vegetarian and non-vegetarian Nepali, Tibetan and Western dishes. IBA provides a perfect environment for study, contemplation and meditation.

Living in Nepal – the good, the bad and the ugly
The Kathmandu Experience:
IBA is only a short walk from Boudhanath Stupa, which is surrounded by monasteries where many lamas of all Tibetan traditions live and teach. The area around Boudhanath Stupa offers many modern conveniences, including ATMs, Internet and laundry services. There are several supermarkets catering to most needs and first-class medical facilities, employing both foreign and local staff.

Weekend activities and holy sites:
Throughout Nepal there are literally hundreds of holy sites, stupas and shrines that the students can visit on the weekends. Students can also practice their Tibetan by befriending and mingling with the local Tibetan community in the shops and restaurants surrounding the main Bouddhanath Stupa. The longer holiday breaks in the program are a good opportunity to visit India’s many holy sites and attend or request teachings from lamas.

The bad and the ugly:
Nepal is a developing nation and one of the poorest in the world.  This causes a range of problems. You can expect to see people living in poverty and many sick dogs. You can also expect to develop stomach trouble if you buy food from street vendors. There is a severe shortage of electricity which causes many hours of controlled load-shedding (blackouts).

The key to a successful stay in Nepal is not to have high expectations that demand what we are accustomed to in the West. If you have traveled in South Asia or visited other developing countries, you will have no trouble adjusting to a simple life in Nepal. For example, we have an ecologically friendly water heating system. Since it is heated by natural sunlight, students who prefer the warmest showers will have to wait until after lunch.

The Nepali people are generally warm and friendly, and there is very little personal security risk. For the peace of mind of the students, the IBA campus has a guard on duty 24 hours a day.

Schedule
The program will begin on October 1, 2011, and conclude on May 15, 2013.  We will open for registration in February, 2011. Applications will be accepted until June 30, 2011. It will be interspersed with holidays and seminars led by guest translators. Students are welcome to stay at the IBA campus during breaks and enjoy the peace and quiet in a spiritual environment. Students also have the option of participating in the summer philosophy courses. A good grounding in philosophy will prove essential to translating classical Buddhist texts.

Is this program right for you?
Generally, intensive translation training programs of this type have a high dropout rate. This is because after some time the participants find it difficult to keep up with the pace of the class and learning the vocabulary. We aim to minimize this problem by selecting the right students.

Two types of students do well: those with an aptitude for learning languages and those with a burning desire to learn Tibetan. For example, some students have promised their lama they will learn Tibetan and are willing to totally invest themselves in the endeavor. You should apply for this program only if you have a natural ability to learn languages or if you are committed to investing whatever time and energy it takes to learn Tibetan.

Obviously, completing this program will have a tremendous impact on you. Learning Tibetan will empower you and change your life significantly. You will have access to the treasure of Dharma contained within the vast collection of scriptures in Tibetan, and you will be able to communicate directly with lamas. As a translator, you will contribute to the dissemination of the Dharma and thereby help many sentient beings.

There are no application fees. All applications will be considered, and we encourage all those who are serious about learning Tibetan to apply. Preference will be given to applicants who are younger, who already know more than one language and who are willing to stay on after the two-year translation program to work on Sakya translation projects.

Entry requirements
The Translator Training Intensive Program is rigorous, with 20 to 25 hours of work per week. At a minimum, students applying to the program should have the following prerequisites:

1. Should be at least 18 years of age.
2. Should possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
3. Should be proficient in English.
   The classes will be conducted in English initially and then turn almost exclusively to Tibetan as students make progress in their ability to speak the language. Although we encourage native speakers of other languages to apply, it should be clear that the group translation efforts will be conducted in English. Therefore, students should have a good grounding in English to participate in the program. 
4. Should have a basic knowledge of the Tibetan alphabet.
   Students should be able to recognize the Tibetan characters, know their pronunciation, syllable structure, etc. Although more knowledge of Tibetan will be helpful as the course develops, this much is required.
5. Should be diligent and possess an enthusiasm for learning Tibetan.

Application Process

• The application consists of 3 parts: an online form, a short statement and a letter of recommendation. Deadline for submitting the online registration and all application materials: June 30, 2011.
• Registration will open on February 2011.

Important features of the program include:

1. Colloquial courses strengthened with conversation partners
2. Classical courses developed with practical hands-on translation
3. Translation workshops with guest scholars
4. A thorough introduction to Sanskrit, the holy language
5. Room and board included for duration of the program
6. Environment conducive to study

Fees
The program fees will be approx. $5,000 USD per school year (8 months). This total includes tuition, room and board, and the Sanskrit course. In addition to the Tibetan and Sanskrit courses, each student is entitled to a private room, three meals a day, tea during breaks, use of IBA’s library and other facilities, and unlimited Wi-Fi Internet. Program fees do not cover transportation, visa fees ($50 per month for a student visa), medical insurance or other personal expenses. Payments are to be made at the beginning of each October and cover the 8-month academic year.

Discounts
A few scholarships are available for low-income students. Scholarship students must commit to volunteering one hour per day as a speaking partner for monks learning English.
Ordained Sangha receive a 25% discount on all fees. All Translation Intensive Program participants will receive a 25% discount on all summer courses.