Key Features of Persian in Use

1. New vocabulary includes diacritics

 Short vowels in Persian are written as diacritics, which are often omitted in writing as native speakers automatically know the pronunciation of the  word. Most Persian textbooks fail to place the diacritics on the new vocabulary. This causes frustration for students. In this book, the first time a new vocabulary is introduced the diacritics are included. Students are expected to learn the pronunciation afterwards and the diacritics are removed in the subsequent usages.

2. Thematic review of new vocabulary

Persian in Use summarizes new vocabulary based on a specific theme (such as “Means of Transportation” or "About Eating”) or lexical category ("Nouns & Adjectives”) in order to make the process of vocabulary acquisition by students more meaningful.

3. The content is organized thematically

Each lesson Of Persian in Use is designed around a core theme and contains a clear set of communication goals that students will acquire through that lesson. 

4. Both written and spoken forms are introduced from the outset

Persian in Use introduces both varieties of written and spoken language for the new vocabulary and dialogues. In the audio files, the dialogues are recorded in spoken form and the reading passages are recorded in written form. Persian in Use provides many opportunities for students to practice  the differences between the written and spoken forms in order to gain a strong command of both.

5. Content and exercises include authentic and level-appropriate material

The interactive dialogues, reading passages, and exercises are carefully selected to include authentic and level-appropriate material, yet follow a specific apparatus and maintain cohesiveness and readability. New material builds on students’ existing knowledge and no linguistic form remains  unexplained.

6. Activities are specifically designed for the integration of all four skills and the three modes of communication

Activities and tasks are designed to reinforce all four skills. Each exercise is labeled with graphic symbols to demonstrate which skill is promoted in that exercise: Headphone (for listening), Pencil (for writing), Book (for reading), People talking (for speaking), and Mouth (for pronunciation). Pair/group exercises and classroom activities promote cooperation between students and reinforce communication.

7. Includes a variety of registers

In an effort to capture the way the language is used by native speakers, Persian in Use offers a variety of language styles such as the modest and polite forms, proverbs, idioms, slang, street talk, and even some derogatory words. This feature makes the book an excellent resource for those interested in learning how the language is used among the younger generations and on the streets.

8. “Common Mistakes”

 One of the unique features of Persian in Use is the notes on “Common Mistakes”. These notes address the frequent mistakes of students, especially those whose first language is English. Students often transfer/expand the grammar rules of English into Persian which usually results in ill-formed constructions. Based on many years of teaching experience and linguistic knowledge Persian in Use discusses the potential mistakes and helps students avoid them.

9. Supplemental materials include classical/modern poetry and lyrics of pop songs

 Listening to music and reading poetry have proven to be essential tools for learning a foreign language. Thus, Persian in Use offers supplemental materials that include a poem and the lyrics of a song in which the new grammatical feature of the lesson is utilized. The actual songs are all available on YouTube. Students will not be evaluated on the supplemental material as they serve as a resource for students’ cultural exposure. In an effort to provide level-appropriate content, the poem and song may not be about the theme of the lesson, but they are specifically chosen to include the grammatical point introduced in that lesson.

10. Provides material for Differentiated Instruction

Poems and song lyrics can serve as an excellent source for differentiated instruction. In classes with both L2 students and heritage learners (who have prior knowledge of the language) poems and songs can be assigned to the heritage learners as additional homework. This enables teachers to provide a differentiated and more advanced curriculum to cater the needs of  the heritage learners.

11. Cultural notes provide students with information about the past and present

Persian in Use brings a fresh zest to the task of introducing the culture by providing practical tips such as a simple note on using bathrooms in Iran. Other cultural notes includ information about currency, tourist information, history, values, society, cinema, food, and sports.

12. Appendices include a glossary, grammar review, and user-friendly verb charts

Persian in Use includes a language glossary and a verb chart with a list of frequently used verbs, their present and past stems, and their prepositions. The grammar review section summarizes all the tenses covered throughout the book.

13. Lively and clear layout and color-coded lessons

Persian in Use has a delightful layout and lessons are color-coded for easy access. Illustrations have been specifically drawn for this book and make the learning experience enjoyable and clear.