Learning Practical Tibetan [Paperback]

Andrew Bloomfield (Author), Yanki Tshering (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 19, 1998

Whether you are looking for a room, visiting a monastery, or bargaining for a bus seat, Learning Practical Tibetan will make immediate communication with Tibetans easy and fun.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Yanki Tshering studied modern Tibetan at Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, Nepal, and taught at the Experiment in International Living. -- Tshering, Yanki

Language Notes

Text: English, Tibetan

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Product Details

• Paperback: 202 pages
• Publisher: Snow Lion Publications (January 19, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559390980
• ISBN-13: 978-1559390989
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #268,132 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #54 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > Instruction > Southeast Asian

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An alternative view, April 12, 2000

By 

McComas (Canberra, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Learning Practical Tibetan (Paperback)

I am only writing this review, as I feel the honourable person who gave this book one star was a little harsh. I learned spoken Tibetan from this book and I have since used it to teach many other people. I have found it to be very useful - I love the tapes, well-designed, well-arranged. Tons of useful vocab. If you know even half of what is in this book, then you can get by very comfortably with speaking Tibetan in Tibet. Sure, someone who wants to learn grammar might do better with something else, but for 'Practical Tibetan', this book is tops.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good book, but certainly not the best, August 24, 2004

By 

C. Lenz "chalrie" (St. Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Learning Practical Tibetan (Paperback)

Don't let the title of this review fool you, this is a really good Tibetan book. It is full of vocab and set up really well for Westerners. It is great if you are wanting to learn simple Tibetan phrases. But as the title says, this is a 'practical' not a comprehensive language book. The Tibetan language is incredibly complex and difficult. If you are taking a trip to central Tibet and want to know the basics of the Tibetan language, don't leave home without this book. If you want to learn the foundations of Tibetan and really want to tackle the language try "Modern Tibetan Language" (vol I and II) by Losang Thonden published by the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamsala (make sure you get the tapes too!). If you are looking for a comprehensive system to learn conversational Tibetan, try the 4 volume, 18 tape "Fluent Tibetan" system published by Snow Lion. Good luck!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book, April 4, 2001

By 

Harry Rader (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Learning Practical Tibetan (Paperback)

I first read a glowing review of this book from Columbia University and decided to buy it. It's a wonderful book in its own right and especially good when you purchase the accompanying tapes. I used the book when I was in Nepal with great success, and imagine my surprise when I saw many Tibetans with the same book! They told me it helped them to learn English. By far better than the confusing Goldstein alternative (lonely planet), I thanks the authors for filling a gap with such a worthy product.