In this course, students will improve their conversational skills and begin to engage with Tibet’s famous literary canon. Through its distinctive blending of colloquial and literary Tibetan, this course allows students to learn the relationship between these two forms of the language. Students will begin by learning what these two forms of Tibetan have in common, particularly their shared grammatical particles and structures. Students' conversational Tibetan will be improved by their basic engagement with several literary genres, and their knowledge of conversational Tibetan will improve their reading skills.   

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Demonstrate a high basic level of reading and writing in Tibetan.
2. Understand the basic grammatical differences between colloquial and literary Tibetan.
3. Use an active vocabulary of around 1000 words.
4. Identify basic literary sentence structures that will allow them to read introductory level texts with the aid of an instructor.  
5. Demonstrate familiarity with several literary genres such as prayers, songs, and journalism.  
6. Develop a basic understanding of key concepts in Tibetan culture and Tibetan Buddhism. 

Required Resources

Textbook:

Gamble, Ruth, Tenzin Ringpapontsang, Chung Tsering, and Grazia Scotellaro. 2018. Introduction to the Tibetan Language: An eTextbook for Spoken and Literary Tibetan. 1st ed. ANU Press Textbooks. https://doi.org/10.22459/ITL.2018.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	week 1: Review lesson 1-8, Witness Adverbs and Adverbial Phrases.	Weekly Homework 1 due: 5pm on Wednesday, 5 August 2026
2	week 2: Lesson 9: Future Tense (Personal, Volitional and General) Present and Future Tense Overview, Future Being Verbs, Adverbial Phrases (When) and Adjectival Phrases. Recognising future tense, verbs, phrases and using it in daily communication.	Weekly Homework 2 due: 5pm on Wednesday, 12 August 20266
3	week 3: Lesson 10: Literary Verbs and Particles, Overview of Literary Grammar	Weekly Homework 3 due: 5pm on Wednesday, 19 August 2026
4	week 4: Lesson 10: Literary Verbs and Particles, Agentive and Genitive Particles	Weekly Homework 4 due: 5pm on Wednesday, 16 August 2026Take Home Test 1 due: 5pm on Tuesday, 25 August 2026
5	week 5: Lesson 11: The Adverbial Particles, the Oblique Set. Recognising particles in a text.	Weekly Homework 5 date: Wednesday, 2 September 2026
6	week 6: Lesson 11: The Adverbial Particles, the oblique particles	Weekly Homework 6 due: 5:00pm Wednesday, 23 September 2026
7	week 7: Lesson 12: Translating the Manjushri Prayer	Weekly Homework 7 due: 5:00pm Wednesday, 30 September 2026
8	week 8: Lesson 12: Translating the Manjushri Prayer	Weekly Homework 8 due: 5:00pm Wednesday, 7 October 2026
9	week 9: Review of Literary Particles	TAKE HOME TEST 2: due: 5:00pm Tuesday, 13 October 2026
10	week 10: Lesson 13: Translating the 6th Dalai Lama’s Songs	Weekly Homework 9 due: 5:00pm Wednesday, 21 October 2026
11	week 11: Lesson 13: Translating the 6th Dalai Lama’s Songs	Weekly Homework 10 due: 5:00pm Wednesday, 28 October 2026
12	week 12: Lesson 14: Translating Gendun Choepal's Geography Article	Final Take Home Test: due: 5:00pm Tuesday, 3 November 2026

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Weekly Homework	40 %	*	*	1,2,3,4
Take Home Test 1	10 %	26/08/2026	*	1,2,3,4
Take-Home Test 2	15 %	13/10/2026	*	1,2,3,4
Final Take Home Test	25 %	03/11/2026	*	1,2,3,4
Participation	10 %	30/10/2026	09/12/2026	1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Weekly Homework

Writing, speaking and translating exercises that will need to be uploaded weekly the by 5pm on Wednesday the week after the week of the content covered, i.e., Homework for week 1 is due by 5pm on Wednesday of Week 2, et al. Students will receive marks and written feedback within 1 week when feasible.

Assessment Task 2

Take Home Test 1

In order for the student to reflect on what they have learnt in the first 3-4 weeks, this test will test their reading, speaking and comprehension skills. This must be returned within 1 week. This will be due: 5pm on Wednesday, 26 August 2026. Students will receive marks and written feedback within 1 week when feasible.

Assessment Task 3

Take-Home Test 2

This Take Home Test is longer than the previous one. In order for the student to reflect on what they have learnt in the first 8 weeks, this test will test their reading, speaking and comprehension skills. This must be returned within 1 week. This assessment item will be due: due: 5:00pm Tuesday, 13 October 2026. Students will receive marks and written feedback within 1 week when feasible.

Assessment Task 4

Final Take Home Test

This test will test the contents of all 12 weeks of learning. There is an oral and written component (including comprehension) and there will be 1 week to complete it. This assessment Item will be due: 5:00pm Tuesday, 3 November 2026. The Final Take Home Test's final marks are not returned before the course's final results are released.

Assessment Task 5

Participation

Participation is marked by engagement in class activities, clear student preparation for class content (preparing readings, vocabulary, etc.). One mark is available for each of the 10 instructional weeks worth a total of 10% of the course marks. Final participation marks will not be returned before the course's final results are released.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Canvas site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students