In this post, I will give you a list of everything you need in order to start your one-to-one, customized Persian / Farsi online classes with me. But before that, let me remind you why learning Farsi is a good idea:
Cool Poetry: The Book of Kings and More
The Persian language has produced poems which can be classified among the most beautiful literary works in the world. In order to understand and enjoy Persian literature, one needs to learn Farsi / Persian. Many of these poems are not translatable because of the linguistic sophistication involved in constructing them (puns, metaphors, etc.).
The poems of Hafez, Sa’adi and Ferdowsi would be a good place to start. Ferdowsi wrote Shahnameh [The Book of the Kings] because he simply intended to guard the Persian language and to prevent it from being lost. He probably could never guess that his work would be celebrated as the crown of Persian language centuries after his death.
Educational Purposes: Culture & History
Many Iranian immigrants who live in other countries want their children to learn Persian / Farsi, to understand the culture and the history of Iran. Learning Persian/ Farsi also allows people to read newspapers and books written in Persian / Farsi. In addition, international students of archaeology, restoration of ancient buildings, history, and Middle Eastern studies will highly benefit from being able to speak and understand Persian / Farsi for research purposes.
Online Vs. Onsite Classes
Learning Persian /Farsi online can save you a ton of time, reduce air pollution and traffic, and additionally, cut your costs, as private online classes are generally more affordable than private sessions with a tutor commuting to your home.
In addition, an online teacher would be more flexible with scheduling, as she can schedule classes one after the other in a row, catering to students from around the world. You just need to pick a day and time which suits you, and the teacher will do the rest. Remember that all the language skills you will need can be taught online: listening, speaking, reading and writing in Persian/ Farsi. You can also get supplementary practice by watching my “Video Lessons” updated every month.
What You Need for a Farsi Online Class
- High-speed internet
- A good set of headphones and microphone
- A webcam is a plus but is not a must. Some of my students prefer audio classes to video classes, as they feel the video interaction is distracting. Some get self-conscious and others just prefer to concentrate on my voice.
- A clean and cute notebook 🙂
- A warm or cold drink to sip on, depending on the season, for the whole duration of the class.
- A clear head and a relaxed body
Having fun is the number one most important element in my classes. Our brain cannot absorb dull, repetitive or complicated information. Instead, our brain responds better to fun and exciting bits and pieces of information offered to us in little digestible chunks, and that’s exactly what I can do best for my Farsi students: I will never overwhelm you with new information, without making sure that the previous bit of information has already been fully absorbed by your brain.
The Cool Things You Get after You Sign Up
- You can easily read a menu and order food in a Persian restaurant.
- You can surprise your Iranian beloveds by saying you love them in Farsi.
- You can watch all the cool undubbed Iranian movies out there.
- You can brag that you can give your number in an exotic language.
- You can learn how to mix and mingle with introvert Iranians.
- And of course, you can do many more things with your Farsi / Persian skills!
One Step at a Time does the Trick!
As I am not going to expect superhuman performance from you, I equally urge you not to expect miraculous performance or rapid absorption from yourself at the beginning of our journey into the many wonders of Farsi / Persian. Be patient with yourself, and we will go a long way together, I promise!
I hope to see you at one of my online classes soon!