Dari Course 3 - Listening/Speaking

Theme: “Trip to Afghanistan and participating in Nowruz festival.” Nowruz (new day), which marks the beginning of spring, is widely celebrated in Afghanistan and the neighboring countries of Iran and Tajikistan on New Year’s Day (according to the solar calendar). The history of Nowruz goes back three thousand years. Through interactive activities, learner will explore traditions and customs that are involved with the Nowruz celebration. They will learn when and for how long Nowruz is celebrated, as well as what families and societies do in order to welcome the start of spring on Nowruz.

The course will target learners in 4th and 5th grades (9-10 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 will practice the language by completing charts, Venn diagram, and matching activities, while older learners will explore more online materials, create advertisements, complete graphic organizers and KWL (Know, Want to know, Learned), and make more detailed presentations on familiar topics.

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, and talk about routine activities during Nowruz. They will further interview their parents about Nowruz/New Year celebration and share their findings with the class the next day. Learners will also interpret works of art, photographs, and simple pieces of literature (i.e., children’s songs, games, etc.). Learners will work in pairs or small groups to talk about similarities and/or differences between New Year’s celebrations in Afghanistan and in the United States. They will listen to authentic audio and video clips and complete charts answering What, When, Where questions. By the end of the program, learners will be able to talk, read, and write about favorite foods, games, activities, and important places that Afghans usually visit during the Nowruz celebration in Afghanistan. They will also be able to identify areas that are similar or different from those New Year celebrations in the United States. Learners will further be able to make short presentations and explains the steps that are involved in the celebration.