Persian Course 2 - Listening/Speaking

Theme: Trip to Iran and participating in Nowruz festival.” Nowruz (new day), which marks the beginning of spring, is widely celebrated in Iran and the neighboring countries of Afghanistan 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 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 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 routine activities during Nowruz, and interview/ask questions from 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.). In addition, learners will make an illustrated list of their favorite activities and foods during Nowruz, and will further work in pairs or small groups to list similarities and/or differences between New Year’s celebrations in Iran and in the United States. They will look at Nowruz related pictures and predict/brainstorm ideas that may be 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 favorite foods, games, activities, and important places that Iranians usually visit during the Nowruz celebration in Iran. 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 list the steps that are involved in the celebration.