[Buddha-l] Summer Intensive Classical Tibetan course

[Blumenthal, James]

I wanted to let you and your students know of an excellent opportunity for an intensive first year summer intensive Classical Tibetan course at Maitripa College in Portland, OR, USA.  For those who do not know him, Craig Preston, the instructor, is an outstanding Tibetan language teacher and author of two books on Classical Tibetan.  There is more about him in the write-up below.  Maitripa College is a relatively new (2005) Buddhist university offering an M.A. in Buddhist Studies and M.Div.  If anybody has any questions, feel free to contact me or Sara Winkelman at the email address below.
Best,
Jim

James Blumenthal, Assoc. Professor
Philosophy Department
Oregon State University
102-A Hovland Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331
USA
james.blumenthal at oregonstate.edu

and

Maitripa College
Buddhist Studies 
1119 SE Market St.
Portland, OR 97214
USA
(503)235-2477






Classical Tibetan Summer Intensive with Craig Preston at Maitripa College.
http://www.maitripa.org/academic_summer2011.html
 
CLASSICAL TIBETAN SUMMER INTENSIVE is an opportunity for students of all ages to cover First Year Classical Tibetan in eight weeks. Instruction is based on the approach developed at the University of Virginia by Jeffrey Hopkins, using Joe Wilson’s Translating Buddhism from Tibetan, supplemented with additional materials developed by Craig Preston, author of How To Read Classical Tibetan, Vols. I and II. 

This class is for beginning students of Classical Tibetan or for those who wish a systematic and thorough review. The course starts with the alphabet and pronunciation, then rapidly moves on to words and particles. We will then learn how Classical Tibetan signifies meaning using Appendix Four on Verbs, Appendix Five on Case Particles and Declension, and Appendix Seven on Lexical and Syntactic Particles in Joe Wilson’s Translating Buddhism from Tibetan. Finally, we will read the Three Principal Aspects of the Path by Tsong-kha-pa (1357-1419), supplemented with a short commentary by Dngul Chu Dharma Bhadra (1772-1851).

This is an excellent foundation for students applying to or entering MA or Ph.D. programs in Buddhist Studies as well as a rare opportunity for students seeking a knowledge of Classical Tibetan for their personal study and practice.

The complete summer intensive course is the equivalent of Maitripa College’s Tibetan 101 and Tibetan 102 courses, and, when taken for credit, satisfies the MA degree requirement for a minimum of one year of classical Tibetan language study.


Dates: June 13, 2011 - August 12, 2011
128 contact hours over 8 weeks
16 contact hours per week

Tentative class schedule: 
M, T, TH, F ~ 4 hours per day (two two-hour classes), with Wed, Sat, & Sun off.

Cost and Credit Options: $2,512 for academic credit students (8 credits); $1,950 for non-credit students. 

Non-credit students are expected to meet all course requirements for preparation, attendance, and participation, but will not be issued a transcript, nor transfer credit towards a degree at Maitripa College.

Payment:  Payment may be made in full at time of registration or by $250 deposit to hold your space, with the balance payable in 2 equal installments by May 15 and June 15 ($1,131 each for credit students and $850 each for non-credit students). You may pay online by credit card or by check or money order.

Refund/drop policy: Before April 15: Deposit and tuition fully refundable; April 15-June 12: Tuition 75% refundable; From June 12 forward: No refunds

Housing Assistance: Please contact Maitripa for assistance in locating housing if you are traveling to the area for the summer: studentservices at maitripa.org

Instructor: Craig Preston is an internationally known teacher of Classical Tibetan and author of three books. Educated at the University of Virginia under the renowned scholar Jeffery Hopkins, Preston has taught Classical Tibetan for twenty years. He currently teaches Classical Tibetan and Buddhist philosophy in the Asian Studies Program at the University at Buffalo. He is also adjunct faculty at the Namgyal Institute of Buddhist Studies in Ithaca, NY.

Books by Craig Preston:

Buddhist Philosophy: Losang Gonchok's Short Commentary to Jamyang Shayba's Root Text on Tenets, With Daniel Cozort  (Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications).

How to Read Classical Tibetan: Volume One:
A Summary of the General Path (Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications).

How to Read Classical Tibetan, Volume Two: Buddhist Tenets (Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications).

 
Sara Winkelman
Director of Student Services
Maitripa College | 1119 SE Market Street | Portland, OR 97214
 503.235.2477| studentservices at maitripa.org  | info at maitripa.org
| outreach at maitripa.org  | www.maitripa.org