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Tibetan Summer Language Program

Unique Features of the Program: The Tibet House

Living in the Tibet House enables you to pursue your studies among a close-knit community of students devoted to studying Tibetan language and culture.  The Tibet House is lovely Victorian-style house within easy walking distance of your classrooms and just a few blocks from the restaurants and shops on Grounds.  A trained Residence Director who is fluent in Tibetan also resides in the house and encourages the use of Tibetan in everyday life. The RD is available in the evenings to answer your questions and help you practice your conversational skills.

To reserve a space in the language house, please click on the following link to Conference Services.  On the Conference Services site, click on “online reservations” and choose “summer session” from the drop down menu.  Then fill out the relevant information, indicating “TIBET HOUSE” under roommate request.

Please note: high school students are not eligible for University housing.

Tibetan Summer Language House Gallery

Program Structure

Tibetan SLI classes meet from Monday through Friday for seven and a half hours a day with three different Tibetan language instructors. You will meet for three hours every morning with the lead instructor for grammar and vocabulary instruction and practice; the afternoon class meets for an additional three hours and focuses on intensive, communicative practice of the material learned during the morning class; a 90-minute evening class continues to reinforce the day’s material through interactive activities and gives you an opportunity to seek individualized assistance from the evening instructor. The study of Tibetan culture is integrated with language learning throughout all three sessions.

Attendance in all three sessions (morning, afternoon, and evening) is required of all students, regardless of whether they are enrolled for credit or non-credit. Every student, regardless of type of enrollment, must earn a passing grade in each class of the first half of the SLI in order to participate in the second half of the program. Virginia undergraduates fulfill their language requirements upon successful completion of the program.

For more information, see the Tibet Center's description of the program.