GHAND-E PARSI'S
GHAND-E PARSI'S
2024 PERSIAN SUMMER SCHOOL
2024 PERSIAN SUMMER SCHOOL
INTENSIVE PERSIAN COURSES
JUNE 10 - SEPTEMBER 20, 2024
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Why learn Persian this summer?
Over 110 million people around the globe speak Persian today, and countless academic books, journals, articles, TV channels, and social media accounts use the language. Currently spoken and officially used in Iran (Farsi), Afghanistan (Dari Persian), and Tajikistan (Tajiki Persian), Persian was for centuries a language of literary, political, religious, and intellectual production across southeastern Europe to Central, and South Asia; from the Balkans to Bengal until at least the end of the 19th century.
A language of study
After Arabic, Persian is the most commonly used language in which Muslim scholars have written their works. Many masterpieces of world literature and poetry are written in Persian, in addition to the writings of numerous eminent Muslim jurisprudents, theologians, Sufis, philosophers, astronomers, musicians, historians, and physicians. Learning Persian opens the door to direct engagement with a world of primary sources, including manuscripts and archival documents that are critical in the fields of Persianate studies, Ottoman studies, Islamic studies, Shi'ite studies, Middle Eastern studies, Central Asian studies, South Asian studies, and many others.
Connection to a heritage
Persian is deeply intertwined with the rich cultural heritage of Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and parts of Central Asia. It serves as a vessel for the expression of literature, poetry, and art that date back centuries, including the works of renowned poets like Rumi, Hafez, and Ferdowsi. Persian literature is one of the world's most celebrated bodies of work, with masterpieces such as the Shahnameh (Book of Kings) by Ferdowsi, the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, and the poetry of Saadi and Attar. These works have had a profound influence on literature worldwide.
Persian has been a language of administration, diplomacy, and scholarly exchange throughout history. It was the language of the mighty Persian Empire, and served as a lingua franca across vast regions of the Middle East and Central Asia. Persian translations and interpretations of religious texts, particularly in Islam, are highly regarded. Many classical Islamic texts were translated into Persian, contributing to its importance in Islamic scholarship. Persian remains relevant in contemporary times as the official language of Iran and an important language in Afghanistan and Tajikistan. It continues to be a medium of communication, education, and cultural expression for millions of people. Persian has also left its mark on other languages, notably in vocabulary, as Persian words have been found their way into numerous languages, including Arabic, Turkish, Urdu, and Kurdish. Overall, the importance of the Persian language lies in its rich cultural heritage, literary contributions, historical significance, and continued relevance in the modern world.
2024 summer school courses
Elementary Persian Course
In this course, we cover fundamental aspects of the Persian language, focusing on building essential skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. This includes alphabet and pronunciation, greetings and introductions, vocabulary building, grammar basics, common phrases and expressions, listening comprehension, speaking practice, and reading comprehension, as well providing cultural insights of Persian speaking people around the world.
June 10 - September 20, 2024
14 weeks, three 2-hour sessions per week, 90 hours, $1250 ($13.8 per hour)
Possibility of pay in 3 Installments
Online sessions, PDF textbooks provided, unlimited access to a shared doc
Classes with at most 9 learners
Registration deadline: June 1, 2024
Intermediate Persian Course
This course builds upon the foundation laid in the basic level course and delves deeper into the language's intricacies. We cover expanded vocabulary, complex grammar structures, reading and listening comprehension, speaking practice and fluency, grammar review and reinforcement, and cultural understanding of Persian-speaking people around the world.
June 10 - September 20, 2024
14 weeks, three 2-hour sessions per week, 90 hours, $1250 ($13.8 per hour)
Possibility of pay in 3 Installments
Online sessions, PDF textbooks provided, unlimited access to a shared doc
Classes with at most 9 learners
Registration deadline: June 1, 2024
Advanced Persian Course
In this course, we aim to refine language skills to a high level of proficiency, preparing students to engage in complex communication and to understand nuanced aspects of the language. Advanced vocabulary expansion, mastery of complex grammar, reading, and listening comprehension of complex texts, and cultural understanding of Persian-speaking people around the world, are among the main goals of this course.
June 10 - September 20, 2024
14 weeks, three 2-hour sessions per week, 90 hours, $1250 ($13.8 per hour)
Possibility of pay in 3 Installments
Online sessions, PDF textbooks provided, unlimited access to a shared doc
Classes with at most 9 learners
Registration deadline: June 1, 2024
2024 summer school courses
One Summer with Rumi Course
In this course, which is held once each week, a group of poems of Rumi are recited, discussed, and analyzed. The original Persian poems, in addition to the English translations, are provided in advance.
June 10 - September 20, 2024
14 weeks, one 2-hour session per week, 28 hours, $375 ($13.3 per hour)
Possibility of pay in 3 Installments
Online sessions, PDF textbooks provided, unlimited access to a shared doc
Classes with at most 9 learners
Registration deadline: June 1, 2024
One Summer with Sa’di Course
In this course, which is held once each week, a group of poems and texts of Sa’di are recited, discussed, and analyzed. The original Persian poems and texts, in addition to the English translations, are provided in advance.
June 10 - September 20, 2024
14 weeks, one 2-hour session per week, 28 hours, $375 ($13.3 per hour)
Possibility of pay in 3 Installments
Online sessions, texts provided, unlimited access to a shared doc
Classes with at most 9 learners
Registration deadline: June 1, 2024
One Summer with Hafez Course
In this course, which is held once each week, a group of poems and texts of Hafez are recited, discussed, and analyzed. The original Persian poems and texts, in addition to the English translations, are provided in advance.
June 10 - September 20, 2024
14 weeks, one 2-hour session per week, 28 hours, $375 ($13.3 per hour)
Possibility of pay in 3 Installments
Online sessions, poems provided, unlimited access to a shared doc
Classes with at most 9 learners
Registration deadline: June 1, 2024
Persian Conversation Classes
In this course, the teacher assigns a topic for each session, and the learner joins a conversation discussion group and discusses that issue. The teacher is responsible for guiding the discussion, correcting errors, and providing written feedback for all contributors.
June 10 - September 20, 2024
14 weeks, one 2-hour session per week, 28 hours, $375 ($13.3 per hour)
Possibility of pay in 3 Installments
Classes with at most 9 learners
Registration deadline: June 1, 2024
Workshop: “Digital Humanities and Persianate Studies”
In this workshop, a large number of websites, databanks, search engines, online material, and research institutions with digital services that can assist learners do their research are discussed. This workshop will not identify these crucial research tools, but will also equip the student with the practical knowledge to effectively navigate Persian databases — both archival and modern — and locate rare, primary sources.
August 19 - September 14, 2024
4 weeks, one 2-hour session per week, 8 hours, $100 ($12.5 per hour)
Possibility of pay in 2 Installments
Online sessions, PDF textbooks provided, and unlimited access to a shared doc
Classes with at most 9 learners
Registration deadline: August 1, 2024
“Persian Need-Based Course”
As humanities and social sciences, students and researchers have different interests and goals in learning Persian, it is possible to define a need-based course with a special focus on the learner's dissertation projects or research.
About the teacher:
Peyman Eshaghi is a final-year Gerda Henkel Foundation Ph.D. fellow in Islamic Studies at the Free University of Berlin, Germany. Before that, he studied at the University of Chicago, Ankara University, and the University of Tehran. He is a native Persian speaker and has taught many students and researchers the Persian language. In addition to his teaching, he has led workshops on using digital tools in learning Persian and doing research in Persianate studies. Recently, Peyman has worked as the instructor of advanced Persian at Ibn Khaldun University’s language summer school (Istanbul, Turkey).
Among Peyman’s publications is the edited volume Muslim Pilgrimage in the Modern World (co-edited with Babak Rahimi, Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2019), “Mapping the trends in Iranian social, cultural, religious, and political thought from the post-1979 era to the present.” The Routledge International Handbook of Contemporary Muslim Socio-Political Thought. Routledge, 2021. 450-463; “To Capture a Cherished Past: Pilgrimage Photography at Imam Riza’s Shrine, Iran," Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication, 8(2-3): 2015, 282–306; and "Quietness beyond Political Power: Politics of Taking Sanctuary (Bast Neshini) in the Shi’ite Shrines of Iran,” Iranian Studies, 49(3): 2016 (439-512).
Peyman Eshaghi has taught Persian for more than 1000 hours to learners from different language backgrounds and learning purposes.
Testimonials:
“Peyman effortlessly navigates complex grammatical concepts and intricacies of the Persian language while keeping the lesson enjoyable and comprehensible. He can blend engaging content with interactive and practical methods. His teaching style not only facilitates a deeper understanding of Persian but also fosters a genuine enthusiasm for learning with me.”
Seerwan Hariry (Assistant Professor of Arabic at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Qatar)
“I have been taking lessons with Peyman for a term. Together we read texts useful to my current research. Peyman has a deep knowledge of Persian culture and literature. He will not only explain grammar by explaining expressions, and vocabulary by pointing out where the words come from, but also cultural phenomena. It makes for very interesting Persian lessons that keep the student engaged, while progressing at a good pace.”
Laetitia Nanquette (Senior Lecturer in the School of the Arts and Media at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia)
“Peyman makes using Persian far more accessible, especially for non-native researchers without easy access to the cultural, literary, and social contexts that are necessary to understand most historical texts... He does an excellent job deciphering these texts and explaining the particular quirks and stylistic elements of each, so that you will be reading quickly and smoothly in no time.”
Bill Figueroa (Assistant Professor of History and international Relations, University Groningen)
“Peyman is a fantastic Persian teacher. He is very considerate to the needs of his students and adjusts his teaching accordingly. He is kind, patient and accommodating, as well as a pleasure to learn from. He choose material that is appropriate and interesting, while making you understand the language from a logical point of view...”
Rowena Abdul Razak (Assistant Professor of Middle Eastern Studies, Queen Mary University of London)
“Peyman is an excellent (and patient!) pedagogue with a rich treasurehouse of memorized verses apt for seemingly every occasion. With Peyman, you don’t just learn the language, you learn to appreciate it”
Ray Lahiri (PhD candidate of Comparative Literature and Classics, Yale University)
“With so many Persian language sources available online, it can be hard to know where to start! Peyman is an excellent guide to navigating these digital tools and using them to deepen and improve your research...”
Lillian McCabe (PhD candidate of Islamic Studies, Yale University)
“Learning with Peyman is truly an unmatched experience. He adapts his lessons to the research interests of his students whilst effectively providing the language skills needed to understand Persian texts. Peyman does not simply teach Farsi, but also provides profound insights into the worlds in which the language operates.”
Mehreen Zahra Jiwan (PhD Candidate of Religious Studies, University of Columbia)
“...What sets Peyman apart is his unique ability to cater to the specific needs of professional scholars who require a deep and complex comprehension of literary Persian across centuries— a rare attribute among Persian language instructors. I feel exceptionally fortunate to have had the opportunity to study with Peyman.”
Aliya Iqbal (PhD Candidate of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University)
“...The combination of patience, dedication, ability to breakdown and explain linguistic and cultural and historical complexities made Peyman an excellent Persian teacher”
Sebastian J. Rose, (PhD in History, International Relations and Politics at the University of Greenwich, UK)
“...I highly recommend Peyman as a Persian teacher. If you are looking for a teacher who is not only knowledgeable but also passionate about Persian language and culture, Peyman is the perfect choice. Thank you for your dedication to teaching and for sharing your expertise with your students!”
Usman Khan (PhD Candidate of Religious Studies, Princeton University)
“... Peyman’s lessons have been particularly beneficial in helping me decipher Persian and Arabic manuscripts. In our first lesson I laboured for an hour to read a single page of a 17th century manuscript. Five lessons later I was able to comfortably read — and simultaneously translate — 10 manuscript pages per lesson...”
Ali Hammoud, (PhD Candidate at Western Sydney University, Australia)
“...Working with Peyman is likely even useful for those looking to better comprehend classical late medieval and early modern works in other languages of the Persianate world, such as Urdu, Hindi, Dekkani, Pashto, Ottoman Turkish, and Chagatai to name a few, in order to understand better understand the Farsi literary world that the authors of those works simultaneously engaged with.”
Hamid Kolahdouz-Isfahani (PhD Candidate of History, University of California, Davis, US
Other points:
The teachers are a group of native Persian-speaking academics with graduate degrees and experience of teaching Persian; among them, Peyman Eshaghi is confirmed.
Payments could be made in dollars, UK pounds, and euro
Learners are allowed and encouraged to have free chat with the teacher via WhatsApp during non-class hours
All payments could be made in 3 installments.
It is possible to provide an institutional invoice and graduation certificate.
To find the common times for classes, those who are enthusiastic about joining the summer school should preregister through this Google form: https://forms.gle/HYNVHskp6tL6VHCJ7
If you need any more data, do not hesitate to contact via: eshaghipeyman@gmail.com
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