Ep104: Teaching the Tibetan Language - Lama David Curtis 3
In this episode, I am once again joined by David Curtis, a Lama in the Shangpa-Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism and founder of the Tibetan Language Institute.
In this interview, David shares his passion for the Tibetan language and insights gained from his 27 year career teaching Tibetan to thousands of students.
We learn about David’s unique approach to language learning, the unique characteristics of the Tibetan language that David loves, and how different approaches to grammar can open up meaning at different points in a student’s journey.
David also reveals how to approach language learning as a spiritual practice, and shares stories of his interactions with prominent gurus and translators.
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
Topics include:
00:00 – Intro
00:45 – Tibetan Language Institute
02:26 – Developing language learning materials over 27 years of teaching
07:45 – Early dictionaries assumed a knowledge of Greek and Latin
08:43 – David’s approach to teaching the Tibetan language
11:44 – The connection between enlightened nature and language
14:07 – The integration of Sino-Tibetan and Indo-European elements in the Tibetan literary language
22:18 – Chomsky and how to teach grammar
29:08 – Language learning as a spiritual practice
33:04 – The three aspects of language, and advice for the intermediate language learner
39:01 – Resources from Joe B Wilson and John Rockwell
40:39 – How David sees his role as a language teacher
41:39 – Benefits of learning Tibetan and some student success stories
44:33 – The profile of an ideal student
Previous interviews with Lama David Curtis:
https://www.guruviking.com/ep84-lama-david-curtis-hitchhiking-in-samsara/
https://www.guruviking.com/ep99-lama-david-curtis-2-making-of-a-tantric-lama/
To find out more about Lama David Curtis, visit:
http://www.tibetanlanguage.org/
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James