PERS 501Elementary Persian I

Catalog

PERS 101/501 (Elementary Persian I): It's easy to learn and difficult to forget! This course introduces students to Persian - the official language of Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan; spoken by over 130 million speakers worldwide; and the language of many of the most famous and enduring works of poetry, prose, and film. Students will develop basic proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing Persian. They will learn the Persian alphabet and writing system, and begin learning essential vocabulary, fundamental grammatical structures, and basic conversation skills. They will be introduced to aspects of a rich and exciting cultural heritage, including many common customs and traditions. By the end of the semester, students will engage in simple conversations, read basic texts, and gain knowledge and understanding of the Persian-speaking world. No prior knowledge of Persian is required or expected. Completion of PERS 101 fulfills the World Languages WL1 (first-level course) General Education requirement and likewise one of the requirements of the new major or minor tracks in Middle East Studies (MES).