Dari Course 2 - Listening/Speaking

Theme: “Trip to Afghanistan and participating in Nowruz festival.” Nowruz (literally “new day”) marks the first day of springand is widely celebrated in Afghanistan and the neighboring countries of Iran and Tajikistan as New Year’sDay (according to the solar calendar). The history of Nowruz goes back three thousand years. Through interactive activities, learners will explore Nowruz traditions and customs; they will learn when Nowruz is celebrated, how long the festivities last, andwhat families and communities do to welcome the start of spring.

The course will target learners in 2nd and 3rd grades (7-8 years old); however, activities will be varied in order to differentiate instruction for older learners who are entering the program at the level. For instance, younger children will be exposed to and practice the language using coloring and drawing, while older learners will complete charts and Venn diagrams.

The curriculum is intended for intensive STARTALK programs (5 days a week, 6 hours per day, including 2 hours for homework and further practice), but can be easily adapted for different program structures such as weekend schools, semester long programs, etc.

In the process of learning, students will watch movies, listen to stories, play related games, talk about traditional Nowruz activities, interview their parents about Nowruz and share their findings with the class. Learners will also interpret works of art, photographs, and simple pieces of literature (e.g. children’s songs, games, etc.). In addition, learners will make an illustrated list of their favorite Nowruz activities and foods. They will further work in pairs or small groups to list similarities and differences between New Year’s celebrations in Afghanistan and in the United States. They will look at the Nowruz related pictures and brainstorm associated with Nowruz. They will listen to authentic texts about Nowruz and complete charts answering What, When, Where questions. By the end of the program, learners will be able to talk about their favorite foods, games, activities, and important places that Afghans usually visit during Nowruz. They will also be able to identify similarities and differences between New Year’s celebrations in Afghanistan and the United States. Learners will also be able to list the steps that are involved in the Nowruz celebration.