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Advanced Persian Language I

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 advanced-level module that extends your knowledge of the Persian language, honing your ability to communicate orally and textually on a full complement of subjects and registers.

It provides you with the means and opportunity for you to take your reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills in Persian to level B2 or C1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). Through language, the module will deepen your exposure to Persian cultural expression.

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

This module aims to develop your Persian to advanced level. It will develop your ability to use complex grammatical structures of Persian through a wide range of written materials, e.g. media and cultural, and to hone your writing, speaking and listening skills. The module also aims to develop high-demand skills such as translation. Building on your existing knowledge, you will develop your ability to use complex Persian in your writing, speaking and listening. The module will enhance your ability to tackle complex syntactical structures through a wide range of written materials such as media, literature and religious texts. You will become familiar with a range of text registers in writing and translation. You will also learn how to present a topic for discussion and to engage in class debates.  

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 or C1.
• 2. Extract a sense and specific details of authentic aural texts from these genres at CEFRL level B2.2
• 3. Present a detailed argument written in Persian in answer to essay questions on a range of topics.
• 4. Verbally communicate competence in Persian at CEFRL level B2 or C1.
• 5. Engage in an oral discussion of a range of topics in Persian, articulating your own opinions and responding to the opinions of others.
• 6. Translate passages from a variety of authentic written sources from various genres (literary as well as journalistic) into and out of Persian.
• 7. Apply your detailed knowledge of a 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...

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

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 12. Working in groups at solving linguistic tasks at approximately B2 or C1 level of the CEFRL.
• 13. Use time management strategies through developing skills of self-study.
• 14. Deploy cognitive and analytical skills.
• 15. Utilise subject knowledge to solve problems and develop practical skills.
• 16. Show a nuanced appreciation of the literatures 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. You will learn how to present a topic, a discussion and a conclusion. 
• Translation: You will translate advanced texts from Persian into English and vice versa.
• Listening and Speaking: Here you will enhance your listening and speaking capabilities by listening to and discussing topical issues.
• Literature: You will be exposed to different types of classical and modern Persian writings to deepen your knowledge of Persian culture.  

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

Zarghamian, Persian Language Training Course, Preliminary Advanced Level, vols. 1- 2.

Yadollah Samareh, Amuzesh-e zaban-e farsi (advanced).

Photocopied materials (selection from fiction by Iranian writers) and Persian Fiction Reader Workbook by Mohammad Mehdi Khorrami and Michael Hillmann. Ahmad Saffar Moqaddam, Persian Language: Book Three: Iran Today [Advanced Texts]

Key words search

Advanced Persian