Intermediate Persian
| Module title | Intermediate Persian |
|---|---|
| Module code | ARA2141 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Mr Ali Mossadegh (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 10 |
|---|
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, introducing you to new and more abstract fields of communication. It provides you with the means and opportunity for you to take your reading, writing, oral and aural skills in Persian to level B1 (threshold) on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages CEFRL. Through language, the module will continue your exposure to Persian cultural expression. You will use a textbook as well as a variety of materials chosen by course tutors.
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
This module aims to continue development of your active and passive knowledge of Persian through reading, writing and conversation and to enrich your command of Persian grammar and vocabulary. It aims to continue development of your language to CEFRL level B1, consolidating and expanding your grammatical knowledge and developing reading, writing, translation and conversation skills. You will communicate and comprehend more complex topics, and build fluency. The module will enable you to read authentic texts in Persian such as media and literary texts.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Extract a broad sense and some specified detail of written texts at CEFRL level B1.
- 2. Extract a sense and some specified detail of aural communications at CEFR level B1.
- 3. Write short and simple texts on selected topics at CEFRL level B1.
- 4. Verbally elicit, understand and communicate basic factual information and simple selected topics relevant to everyday situations in Persian, displaying reasonable levels of accuracy, at CEFRL level B1.
- 5. Achieve straightforward translations out of Persian.
- 6. Demonstrate a sound grasp of the basic grammatical structures of Persian and utilise it to understand and produce texts in it.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Learn how to consolidate your own learning by using available learning aids, in a variety of media, and organise this process with guidance from course tutors.
- 8. Understand the principles of intensively learning a new language and organise learning time with guidance from course tutors.
- 9. Use a reference grammar book and a bilingual dictionary to check the structural and lexical accuracy of your writing and expression in Persian.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 10. Gain experience in working in groups at solving basic linguistic tasks.
- 11. Develop time management strategies through developing skills of self-study.
- 12. Exercise autonomy and judgement by developing independent learning skills.
- 13. Develop strategies for coping with unpractised linguistic, social and cultural situations.
- 14. Further develop a basic appreciation of the cultures of the people who speak the target language.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Persian grammar tools and concepts.
- Introduction to vocabulary enabling students to use Persian in abstract and diverse subject areas.
- Building learning independence as a Persian scholar, with increasing ability to analyse morphology and syntax, and to use grammatical knowledge and vocabulary to understand more complex texts.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 106 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 44 | Teaching hours (four hours of teaching per week) |
| Guided Independent Study | 106 | Private study at home. Students will be given short readings from Persian Literature texts to study and translate at home that are later discussed by the whole class. Homework is also regularly given, consisting of a variety of quizzes, dictation, readings and translations. Spelling practice 22 hrs, reading 16 hrs, essay writing 16 hrs, copy writing 16 hrs, grammar exercise 11 hrs, listening 22 hrs, 3 hrs for other activities e.g. memorizing poem |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly practical and written assignments | Weekly practical and written assignments | 1-14 | Verbal and/or written feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 50 | 20 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continuous assessment | 30 | One written test including reading, writing, grammar and (90 minutes) One listening test (30 minutes) One oral test (10 minutes) | 1-14 | Verbal and/or written feedback |
| Written examination (Final week in Term) | 50 | 2 hours | 1,3,5,6,11,13 | Verbal and/or written feedback |
| Oral examination (Final week in Term) | 10 | 10 minutes | 2,4,10,11 | Verbal feedback |
| Listening examination (Final week in Term) | 10 | 30 minutes | 2,6,11 | Verbal and/or written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | 2 hours | 1,3,5,6,11,13 | January Exam Period |
| Oral examination | 10 minutes | 2,4,10,11 | January Exam Period |
| Listening Examination | 30 minutes | 2,6,11 | January Exam Period |
| Continuous Assessment | One written test including reading, writing, grammar and (90 minutes) One listening test (30 minutes) One oral test (10 minutes) | 1-14 | January Exam Period |
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: 2005)
Anne Lambton, Persian Grammar (Cambridge University Press)
L. Elwell-Sutton, Elementary Persian Grammar (Cambridge University Press)
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | Elementary Persian II (ARA1020) or equivalent proficiency |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/10/2004 |
| Last revision date | 18/08/2022 |
