Persian Fall 2003 Course information and syllabus

Johns Hopkins University, Language Teaching Center

   Course Information

382.101-102, Beginning Persian  3 Credits
Mon,Wed 4:00-5:30

   Instructor Information

Instructor: Mahvash Shahegh
Email: mshahegh@jhu.edu
Office: 160E Krieger Hall
Office Hours: Wednesdays 5:30-6:30 PM
Tel: 410-545-6342

   Textbook, Readings

• Textbook: Persian for Foreigners, M. Este'lami, Tokyo: Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, 1995
  
• Supplementary Reading: An Introduction to Persian, Thackston, W., Bethesda, Maryland: Iranbooks, 1993.
  
• Dictionaries:
  
• The combined new Persian-English and English-Persian dictionary, Abbas Aryanpur Kashani and Manoochehr Aryanpur Kashani. Lexington, Ky., USA : Mazda Publishers, 1986.
  
• The concise English-Persian dictionary, Aryanpur Kashani, Abbas, Tehran, Iran : Amir Kabir Publishing Corp.,1981.
  
• Online Persian Dictionaries:
• Online English - Persian Dictionary
• Persian Online Dictionary
• FarsiDictionary

   Course Descriptions/Objectives

Persian Language Basic Description:
The ancient and modern language of Persia, Iran, Tajikestan, and Afghanistan, the language of the Epic of Kings (Shâhnâmeh) the Rubâiyât of Omar Khayyâm, and the mystical poet Rumi. An Indo-European language, related to English, French, German, and Russian, but written in an Arabic script.
Course Description:
The basic modern Persian enables students to learn the Persian alphabet, phonology, morphology, and the basic syntax. They also learn reading, writing, and translating basic sentences. Refers to Persian culture will accentuate understanding of the language. Course taught in Persian.

   Course Policies

• ATTENDANCE: Attendance is required. You are allowed three (3) absences. Beyond three absences, you will need a written excuse to be accepted at the instructor's discretion (in case of illness, injury, death or illness in the family, university duties, court attendance, or religious observance.)
  Upon return to class after an absence, you are responsible for any homework, written assignments, quizzes, etc., assigned on the day you were absent. If you know in advance that you have to be absent, please see your instructor. Please get the phone number of a classmate so that you can call him/her in the event that you are unsure of an assignment.
• GRADES: Your grade will include +/- and will be computed as follows:
  30% Quizzes
  20% Written Final Exam
  20% Oral Final Exam
  30% Attendance, participation, and homework
  

   Course Calendar/Schedule

Date	Lecture
Week 1 September 8 - 10	An Introduction to the Persian Script (Vowels & Consonants) P. 15-23
Week 2 September 15 - 17	Notes on Pronunciation (1 & 2) P. 26 - 30
Week 3 September 22 - 24	Notes on Pronunciation (3 & 4) P. 32 - 34
Week 4 September 29 - October 1	Notes on Pronunciation (5) P. 37 - 43
Week 5 Oct. 6 - Oct. 8	Additional Notes on Persian Script P. 48 - 50
Week 6 Oct.13 - 15	An Introduction to the Persian Language P. 61 - 65
Week 7 Oct. 20 - 22	Main Points of Persian Grammar (1 & 2) P. 65 - 68
Monday, Oct. 20	Mid Term Exam
Week 8 Oct. 27 - 29	Main Points of Persian Grammar (3 & 4) P. 68 - 76
Week 9 Nov. 3 - 5	Persian Interrogatives P.78 - 85
Week 10 Nov. 10 - 12	Reading, Iran P. 95-100
Week 11 Nov. 17 - 19	Reading, Tehran P. 100 - 106
Week 12 Nov. 24 - 26	Reading, Daily Life (1) P. 106 - 111
Week 13 Dec. 1 - 3	Reading, Daily Life (2) P. 111 - 118
Week 14 Dec. 8	Reading, Persian Calendar (1) P. 118 - 124
Monday, Dec. 15	Final Exam

   Some Useful Links:

• Farsi Pad
  Free download of Persian word processing program, with fonts
• Persian Alphabet
  Alphabet and simple word practice with a picture dictionary:
• Râdio Sedâye Irân:
  
• Persian Is Sugar!
  Persian (Farsi) Language Tutorial