Basic Tibetan is a first-of-its-kind, multimedia interactive online textbook designed for learners of Tibetan in higher education. This collaborative project brings together Michigan State University’s expertise in curriculum development for less commonly taught languages, in partnership with the Tibetan language programs at the University of Wisconsin and Columbia University. Grounded in over a decade of classroom experience teaching Tibetan in North America, this resource offers a dynamic, learner-centered approach to language acquisition.

Unlike traditional textbooks, Basic Tibetan emphasizes doing rather than reading about grammar. Instead of relying on lengthy grammatical explanations, students are guided through carefully structured, hands-on activities that help them internalize key concepts and patterns in Tibetan. One of the hallmark features of this book is its focus on self-directed learning—empowering students to actively engage with the language.

Tibetan phonology, often a stumbling block for beginners, is made more accessible through a design that reduces dependency on phonetic transcription. Learners are encouraged to listen, repeat, and internalize the sounds of Tibetan through audio recordings that are just one click away—embedded directly in the lesson pages.

To support vocabulary and sentence structure acquisition, the book offers a wide range of interactive exercises. These include matching games, drag-and-drop sentence building, and immediate feedback quizzes that make learning both effective and enjoyable.

Basic Tibetan invites students to immerse themselves in the language through exploration, interaction, and consistent practice—all within a single integrated platform.