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Intermediate Persian II

Module description

Persian is a modern Indo-European language spoken today by over 100 million people—chiefly in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. This is an intermediate-level module that extends your knowledge of the Persian  language, continuing your introduction to new and more abstract fields of communication. It provides you with the means and opportunity for you to take your reading, listening, speaking and writing in Persian to level B2 (vantage/upper intermediate) on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages CEFRL. Through language, the module will continue your exposure to Persian cultural expression. You will also develop your cultural knowledge.

This module continues on from Intermediate Persian I (ARA2141; its pre-requisites). Students on this module will be using a textbook as well as a variety of materials chosen by course tutors. Through both written texts and audio-visual material, you will be able to work on all language-related skills, including reading, listening, speaking, writing and cultural knowledge.

If you have prior knowledge of Persian acquired outside of your degree programme or have not completed the prerequisite modules, your level will be assessed by the module convenor in order to establish whether this module is suitable for you—admission in such cases is not guaranteed.

Module aims - intentions of the module

Building on your Persian learning experience to date, this module aims to develop a deeper knowledge of grammatical and syntactical structures; to develop active and passive knowledge of Persian through

A wide range of written and audio-visual materials; to strengthen your awareness of different styles and

registers; and to develop your skills in composition and translation. The module also aims to  consolidate your use of spoken Persian.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Extract a sense and specific details of authentic written texts from various genres at CEFRL level B2.
• 2. Present a detailed argument written in Persian in answer to essay questions on a range of topics at CEFRL level B2.
• 3. Verbally communicate with competence in Persian at CEFRL level B2. Engage in an oral discussion of a range of (mainly contemporary) topics in the target language, articulating your own opinions and responding to the opinions of others.
• 4. Give an oral presentation in Persian on a defined topic to a small group of listeners and engage in group discussion and debate of the topic presented at CEFRL level B2, articulating your own opinions and responding to the opinions of others.
• 5. Translate passages from a variety of authentic written sources from various genres (including literary and journalistic) into and out of Persian.
• 6. Apply your growing knowledge of a broad range of grammatical features of Persian to a variety of linguistic tasks.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Learn how to consolidate your own learning independently by using available learning aids, in a variety of media, and organise this process with guidance from course tutors.
• 8. Recognise and understand core linguistic terminology individually and as part of a group.
• 9. Use a bilingual dictionary to glean information about meaning, register, usage and grammatical forms.
• 10. Engage, under guidance and independently, with Persian media, printed and online.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 11. Work in groups at solving linguistic tasks at CEFRL level B2.
• 12. Deploy time management strategies through developing skills of self-study.
• 13. Exercise autonomy and judgement by enhancing your independent learning skills.
• 14. Deploy strategies for coping with unpractised linguistic, social and cultural situations.
• 15. Show an enriched appreciation of the literature and cultures of the people who speak (and spoke) Persian.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, the syllabus will cover the following topics:

• Reading: You will be introduced to different types of authentic texts; including literary, practical and journalistic.
• Writing: You will be introduced to different styles of writing. Personal and formal correspondence, instructions, description and comparison, narration, argumentation etc. You will learn how to present a topic, a discussion and a conclusion.
• Translation: Here you will become familiar with a range of text types by translating them from Persian into English and from English into Persian.
• Listening: This includes listening to a variety of clips, which might include media, broadcasts, news, interviews, documentaries etc.
• Speaking: You will practice speaking about various topics in Persian.
• Persian language through literature: You will have a chance to practice your skills and deepen your knowledge and understanding of Persian cultures and literatures.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

Safar Moghaddam and Yadollah Samareh’s Persian Language Teaching: Elementary Course, Book II

Narguess Farzad, Modern Persian (London: 2004)

Anne Lambton, Persian Grammar (Cambridge University Press, 1953)

L. Elwell-Sutton, Elementary Persian Grammar (Cambridge University Press, 1963)

W. Windfur, Persian Grammar: The History and State of Its Study (Mouton, the Hague, 1979)

Key words search

Intermediate Persian