Washington, DC: On 29 November 2025, the Department of Education, Central Tibetan Administration, conducted the third and fourth online training sessions for kindergarten and lower primary school teachers of weekend Tibetan schools in North America, focusing on enhancing Tibetan language teaching methods.
Two sessions were held on the day: the first from 9:00 to 11:00 AM (EST) and the second from 1:00 to 2:30 PM (EST). The workshop was led by Passang Tsering, a Tibetan language teacher at Mewoen Tsuglag Petoen School in Gangkyi.
During the morning session, a total of 60 teachers from Boston, Ithaca, Charlottesville, Wisconsin, Chicago, Connecticut, the Capital Area, Massachusetts, Philadelphia, the Maine Tibetan Association, the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre, and Atlanta took part. In the afternoon session, 14 teachers from the New York and New Jersey Tibetan Community’s Losel Ketsel Ling Tibetan Weekend School participated.
Education Kalon (Minister) Tharlam Dolma Changra and Representative Namgyal Chodrup of the Office of Tibet in Washington D.C., joined the opening of the training. Gedun Dhonyoe, Head of the Textbook Section in the Department of Education, and Kunga Tashi, Tibetan Liaison Officer at the Office of Tibet, were also among the participants in the opening session.
Following an introductory address by Gedun Dhonyoe to formally open the intensive training, the Education Kalon and the Representative of North America each delivered brief remarks. They highlighted the importance of the programme, the vital role of weekend schools, the significance of curriculum guidelines, and the background of the training. Both expressed their deep appreciation for the weekend school teachers, acknowledging their voluntary service, dedication, and the essential role they play. The duo stressed that, without their commitment, Tibetan children living abroad would face significant challenges in learning the Tibetan language and culture.
Instructor Passang Tsering delivered practical training covering teachers’ conduct and demeanour, preparation and selection of teaching materials, methods of introducing reading skills and Tibetan characters, integrated approaches to teaching reading and writing, the use of children’s stories in language instruction, and the practical application of listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities. He also responded to teachers’ questions and provided clear and helpful explanations.
Teachers who attended the training expressed that the two-hour session would greatly benefit their future teaching and that they had gained valuable new insights.
Weekend Tibetan schools in North America operate across the Eastern, Western, and Central regions. As the levels of these schools vary, the training has been divided into six sessions. Four sessions have been completed, with two more scheduled for the upcoming Saturday.
– Report filed by the Office of Tibet, Washington, DC
