top of page
norbulingka-insitute-25x9-e.webp

Course Pricing & Packages

Invest in Your Tibetan Language Journey
with Personalized One-on-One Expert Instruction

All courses are fully customized to your personal goals.
 

Whether you're learning Classical Tibetan for Buddhist study, Colloquial Tibetan for travel and conversation, or developing professional translation or interpretation skills, you can make significant progress in your studies with our specialized course offerings.

Choose the package that fits your commitment level.

Choose Your Course Package.


All course packages include personalized one-on-one instruction from Erick Tsiknopoulos,
an active translator, interpreter and scholar with 17+ years of professional Tibetan-English translation experience and over 11 years of immersive language study in the Tibetan communities of India and Nepal. Erick has been practicing Buddhism since 1999 and studying Tibetan since 2004.


Course Packages can be applied to any of the following subjects of study: 

1) Classical Tibetan (Textual, Traditional)
2) Colloquial Tibetan (Spoken, Conversational)
3) Modern Literary Tibetan (20th-21st century Literature & Media)
4) Buddhist Texts in Tibetan (Religious, Philosophical Focus)


The above subjects can also be studied in combination or alternation. 

 

LIST OF COURSE PACKAGES


Package: Trial Lesson
—Hours: 1 hour
—Total Investment: $50
—Per Hour: $50/hr

—Best For: Single consultation or topic review. No long-term commitment required.

 

Package: Introductory Module
—Hours: 10 hours
—Total Investment: $450

—Per Hour: $45/hr
—Best For: Introductory sessions or short study program. Sufficient to learn Tibetan script, cover the building blocks of Tibetan grammar, read through a short Tibetan text, or cover a few chapters in a textbook.

Package: Foundational Module ⭐Recommended Minimum
—Hours: 20 hours
—Total Investment: $800

—Per Hour: $40/hr
—Best For: RECOMMENDED MINIMUM for steady progress. The Foundational Module allows enough time to complete a full introductory grammar overview, build vocabulary, or improve reading skills.

 

Package: Basic Program Module ⭐Most Popular
—Hours: 30 hours
—Total Investment: $1140

—Per Hour: $38/hr
—Best For: MOST POPULAR. The Basic Program Module provides the ideal foundation for reading/speaking. The most effective starting commitment for achieving consistent reading or speaking ability, acquiring a broader comprehension, and developing overall language skills.

Package: Core Proficiency Module
—Hours: 40 hours
—Total Investment: $1,480

—Per Hour: $37/hr
—Best For: Core Mastery. Build confidence in your chosen subject. Provides the necessary hours to move from foundational language skills to deeper understanding all course types.

 

Package: Higher Proficiency Module
—Hours: 50 hours
—Total Investment: $1,800

—Per Hour: $36/hr
—Best For: Higher Mastery.  Advanced reading, conversation or translation practice. Sufficient time to improve reading proficiency or achieve conversational comfort.

 

Package: Advanced Proficiency Module
—Hours: 60 hours
—Total Investment: $2,100

—Per Hour: $35/hr
—Best For: Advanced Proficiency through focused study. Excellent for advanced textual scholars or dedicated language students aiming for confident, independent reading, spoken fluency, or linguistic analysis.

Package: Comprehensive Immersion Module ⭐Best Value
Hours: 100 hours
Total Investment: $3000
Per Hour: $30/hr
Best For: BEST VALUE for Comprehensive Immersion. Long-term study for deep specialization. Maximum discount for long-term study and deep-dive specialization, such as completing the guided review of a longer Buddhist text, achieving advanced comprehension of spoken Tibetan, or intensive research preparation.

 

All prices in USD. Payment required in full before first session.

Course Types Available

All packages can be applied to any of these subjects of study, each focused on a different aspect of Tibetan language and literature:

Special Training Tracks

In addition to the four main course types above, we offer specialized training modules that can be incorporated into any package:
 

  • Colloquial Tibetan Conversation Training - Intensive speaking and listening practice + vocabulary deep-dive

  • Buddhist Philosophy in Tibetan - Philosophical texts and doctrinal analysis + special Buddhist terms deep-dive

  • Reading Sūtras in Tibetan - Mahāyāna scriptural study and extensive textual readings + guided commentary

  • Chanting Texts in Tibetan - Pronunciation and intonation for liturgical recitation + reading Vajrayāna practice texts

What's Included in Every Course Package

✅ Fully Customized Curriculum
Tailored to your specific goals and learning pace

✅ Professional Instruction
Learn from a working translator with 17+ years of experience

✅ Flexible Scheduling
Classes arranged according to your availability


✅ Online Convenience
Study from anywhere via Zoom, Google Meet, or WhatsApp


✅ Course Materials
Recommended textbooks and resources provided

✅ All Course Types Available
Classical, Colloquial, Modern Literary, or Buddhist Texts

How It Works

1. Choose Your Package

Select the hour package that matches your commitment level and learning goals.
 

2. Contact Us

Email us at trikayatranslations@gmail.com with your chosen package and preferred course focus. We'll discuss your goals, schedule, and next steps.
 

3. Make Payment

Full payment is required before scheduling your first session. We accept PayPal, Wise, and bank transfer.
 

4. Begin Your Studies

After payment confirmation, we'll schedule your first session and begin your customized Tibetan language journey.

Even More Prayer Flags.webp

Professional Translation Training

Develop Professional-Level Translation Skills with Personalized Mentorship
from a Seasoned Translator with Over 17 Years of Working Experience

For dedicated students seeking to transition from language learning to professional translation or interpretation work (textual or oral), we offer comprehensive Tibetan-English Translation Training Programs combining extensive theoretical instruction, supervised translation projects, and portfolio development. These courses are tailored to the individual student's professional goals and particular interests in translation/interpretation.

All aspects of the translation process are covered in these courses, with in-depth explanations of word choice, grammatical adaptation, doctrinal context, advanced Buddhist terminology, linguistic nuance, written composition, and best professional practices for practical Tibetan-English translation methodology. 

Translation Training Packages

Program: Foundation in Tibetan-English Translation Techniques
Hours: 100 hours
Total Investment: $3,700
Per Hour: $37/hr
What's Included: Translation fundamentals + 2-3 supervised projects

Program: Professional Tibetan-English Translation Training
Hours: 150 hours
Total Investment: $5,400
Per Hour: $36/hr
What's Included: Complete curriculum + portfolio development

 

Program: Advanced Tibetan-English Translation Specialization
Hours: 200 hours
Total Investment: $7,000
Per Hour: $35/hr
What's Included: BEST VALUE - Comprehensive training + publication prep

 

Prerequisites: Intermediate-to-advanced Tibetan proficiency (B2+ level in Classical or Modern Literary Tibetan). Students with at least one year of prior study and/or basic reading proficiency in Classical Tibetan are preferred.

 

Program Structure:

  • Translation theory and methodology

  • Supervised translation of authentic Buddhist texts

  • Detailed feedback and revision guidance

  • Professional terminology development

  • Portfolio building for publication or professional work
     

Learn More About Translation Training →

Prayer Flag Pass.jpg
Boudha Stone Shop.webp

Scheduling
& Class Format

Optimal Schedule for New Students

—Beginner-Lower Intermediate Students: 2-3 sessions/week (2 to 6 hours/week)
—Upper Intermediate-Advanced Students: 3-4 sessions/week (3 to 8 hours/week)
—Intensive Study (For Students of All Levels): 5-6 sessions/week (5 to 12 hours/week)

Session Length:

Available in sessions of 1-hour/60 minutes, 1.5 hours/90 minutes, or 2-hour/120 minutes (price charged per hour).

Frequency:

We recommend a minimum of 2 sessions per week (2-4 hours/week) for effective learning. Students may choose to up to 6 sessions/week.


Class Format: 
All sessions conducted online via video conference (Zoom, Google Meet, or WhatsApp).

Time Zones:
Instruction is usually delivered from Bucharest, Romania (EET/UTC+2). We work with students worldwide to find the convenient scheduling for all global time zones.


Flexibility:
Classes are scheduled according to your availability and the teacher's work commitments.

Group Courses: Starting 2026


Coming Soon: Group Tibetan language courses for 3-10+ students at reduced rates.

Courses will commence in Early Spring 2026.

 


Interested? Email us at trikayatranslations@gmail.com to be notified when group courses launch.

PAYMENT INFORMATION
 

Payment Methods: How to Pay for the Courses
 

We accept secure payment via:

  • Wise (preferred method, low cost)

  • Paypal

  • Direct bank transfer
     

Contact us for payment details at: trikayatranslations@gmail.com

Payment Policy

  • Full payment required before first session

  • Non-refundable after first session begins

  • Must cover all transfer fees

  • Payment in USD only
     

PayPal Instructions
 

To avoid Paypal transfer fees:

  1. Select "Sending to a friend" or "Friends and Family" option

  2. If not available, add 5% of the total amount to cover transfer fees

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Important information about our Tibetan language courses.


How long will it take to complete my package?

Completion time depends on your weekly schedule. With 2-3 sessions per week:
 

10-hour package: 3-5 weeks
20-hour package: 7-10 weeks
30-hour package: 10-15 weeks
100-hour package: 33-50 weeks

 

Can I switch between course types during my package?

Yes! Your package hours are flexible. You can combine Classical Tibetan study with Colloquial practice, or switch focus as your goals evolve.

What happens if I need to reschedule a session?

Please provide 24-hour notice for rescheduling or cancellation. Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours notice may be forfeited.

Can I pause my course and resume later?

Life happens! You can pause your course at any time. We recommend resuming within 3 months to maintain momentum, but contact us if you need a longer break—we're happy to work with you.

Do my hours expire?

Purchased hours must be used within 12 months of payment date. This ensures course continuity and learning effectiveness.

What materials do I need?

We'll recommend specific textbooks and resources based on your course type. Most materials are available as PDFs or can be purchased online. A notebook for practice is recommended.

Is there a refund policy?

Full payment is non-refundable once your first session begins. If you need to cancel before starting, contact us to discuss options.

What level of Tibetan do I need to start?

Complete beginners are welcome! We customize instruction to your current level, whether you're learning the script for the first time or already have intermediate proficiency.


Ready to Start?
Contact us today to enroll in your chosen package.
 

Email: trikayatranslations@gmail.com

Phone/WhatsApp: +40 769 824 828

 

Questions?
We're happy to discuss which package and course type best fits your goals. Feel free to reach out to discuss options.


Learn More About Our Academy →
Read Student Testimonials →

bottom of page