Pre-Proficiency Level
Basic Program
Novice Persian 916.710 (Level I)
Novice Persian is the first in a four-course sequence. In this course you will begin to develop your listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in Persian. Development of these skills is vital for the process of communication. Students entering this course are expected to be beginners, and are expected to achieve the Novice highlevel in the ACTFL scale (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages).
Novice High Persian 916.712 (Level 1)
This is the second in a four-course sequence in the SAIS Persian Program. Students entering this course are expected to be at the Novice High level in the ACTFL scale (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages), and are expected to achieve the Intermediate Low level. The course objectives are seen in terms of students performing linguistics tasks successfully, gaining self-confidence, relying on themselves and classmates, and expanding their risk-taking in real-life communicative situations. The language students practice in class is realistic what they would speak in a Persian-speaking environment.
Intermeidate Low Persian 916.720 (Level II)
This is the third in a four-course sequence in the SAIS Persian Program. Students entering this course are expected to be at the Intermediate Lowlevel in the ACTFL scale (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages), and are expected to achieve the Intermediate Mid Ilevel. The course objectives are seen in terms of students performing linguistics tasks successfully, gaining self-confidence, relying on themselves and classmates, and expanding their risk-taking in real-life communicative situations. The language students practice in class is realistic what they would speak in a Persian-speaking environment.
Intermediate Mid I Persian 916.721 (Level III)
The Intermediate-Mid I Persian course is fourth in a four-course sequence. This course provides additional practice to help students attain a higher level of skill development (e.g., listening, speaking, reading and writing) and linguistic accuracy. The course favors a skill-based approach in which students gain mastery of the language through the use of authentic materials taken from various sources (e.g., periodicals, video and radio documentaries). The selection of the materials is based on the complexity of the tasks and the students' professional and personal interest. The teaching of grammar and vocabulary is integrated to the skill-based activities, and it is incorporated in the class activities as an aid to overcome any communicative problems. The teaching techniques are student-centered, with the instructor as the facilitator, and the goal of teaching to make students independent users of Persian.
Intermediate Mid II Persian 910.722 (Level IV)
This course will offer an in-depth review of grammar topics in Persian that continue to cause difficulties for the foreign language learner: the preterite-imperfect contrast, comparatives, the use of the subjunctive,etc.. A program of vocabulary building will be incorporated into the course. It is important to realize, however, that vocabulary and grammar are means to an end; knowing the definition of vocabulary items or being able to recite grammar rules is not using the language. Therefore, the review will be accomplished through a variety of activities in speaking, reading, listening, and writing. In this way, the students will improve their knowledge of grammar and their proficiency in these necessary language skills. The teaching activities are student-centered, with the instructor serving as facilitator. The goal of this course is to make students independent users of Persian.
Post-Proficiency Level
Optional Courses
In addition to the Basic Program, we also provide courses that are beyond the SAIS language requirement scope. These courses are at a higher level of proficiency or tailored to a specific need or interest (e.g., Advanced Persian, etc.).