Teacher
About the language
Persian (Farsi) is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 130 million people worldwide, including native and second-language speakers in Iran, Afghanistan (where it is known as Dari), Tajikistan (where it is known as Tajik), Russia (in Dagestan), Uzbekistan, and in diaspora communities. It is written in a modified Arabic script and has a rich literary tradition, from classical poets such as Hafez and Rumi to a vibrant contemporary culture. Modern Standard Persian, the official language of Iran, serves as the basis of this course.
Requirements
No prior knowledge of Persian is required. The course is open to complete beginners.
Course programme
This course serves as an initiation to the fundamentals of Persian. Through a structured curriculum, students will gain an understanding of Standard Persian, focusing on essential language mechanisms.
The course includes:
– Introduction to the Persian alphabet and writing system
– Basic pronunciation and phonetics
– Fundamental grammar structures (sentence formation, present tense, simple past, pronouns, prepositions)
– Core vocabulary for everyday communication
– Practical instruction in social interactions (greetings, introductions, daily activities, family, food, directions, etc.)
– Basic reading and writing skills
– Listening and speaking practice in guided situations
By the end of the course, students will be able to communicate in simple everyday situations and will have built a foundation for further study.
References and resources
The instructor selectively draws on the following materials for the hand-outs and exercises, supplemented by authentic resources such as videos, songs, and contemporary media:
– Iago Gocheleishvili, Modern Persian, Elementary Level: Like a Nightingale (London: Anthem Press, 2020)
– P. Shabani-Jadidi & D. Brookshaw, The Routledge Persian Course: Farsi Shirin Ast Series (London: Routledge, 2020).
– Saadi Foundation. AZFA (Teaching Persian to Speakers of Other Languages) textbooks. https://core.saadifoundation.ir/
– Chai and Conversation Podcast. With over 70 free audio lessons on a range of topics, from everyday phrases to poetry https://www.chaiandconversation.com/learn-persian
– Omniglot – Persian Writing Systems. Resource for useful Persian-related links http://www.omniglot.com/writing/persian.htm
– Vajehyab Online Persian Dictionary. Free and accessible general-purpose dictionary for Persian http://www.vajehyab.com/
– Ganjoor. Resources on classical and modern Persian poetry, along with audio recordings and definitions http://ganjoor.net/