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
Successful completion of Persian I or equivalent knowledge (basic reading/writing ability and fundamental grammar structures such as present and past tense).
Course programme
Building upon foundational knowledge, this advanced Persian course offers a deeper exploration of Persian language and culture.
The course includes:
– Expansion of vocabulary across thematic fields (society, media, culture, daily life)
– More complex grammatical structures (compound verbs, subjunctive, modal constructions, complex sentences)
– Reading and analysis of longer texts (short stories, media excerpts)
– Listening comprehension using authentic audio/video materials
– Structured conversation practice
– Writing short paragraphs and guided compositions
– Cultural contextualization of language use
Students will strengthen their communicative competence and gain greater confidence in Persian-speaking environments.
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/