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Department of Languages, Literatures & Linguistics Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
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Persian

Explore a language and culture with a long history and a rich body of literature. You will study Iranian culture (in English) as well as all aspects of the Persian language (in Persian) also known as Farsi/Dari/Tajiki, in courses ranging from elementary to advanced Persian, Iranian cinema, Middle Eastern cinemas, and Persian literature and culture.

While the language is spoken today primarily in Iran and large parts of Afghanistan and Tajikistan, communities of Persian speakers also exist in the Near East Asia, countries bordering the Persian Gulf and many other places around the world. The Persian speaking community in Toronto is the second largest Iranian diasporic community in North America. Whether you are studying a new language and culture or boosting your existing skills, you will develop the expertise and mindset to help you tackle many different academic and professional challenges.

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Due to COVID-19, the Department of Languages, Literatures & Linguistics will not be offering in-person classes this semester.

When registering in our courses, you will be presented with the following options: 

  • Online courses. All elements of these courses will be offered online without any fixed meeting time. You can do them at the time of your choosing (Asynchronously).
  • Remote courses. These courses will be delivered in real time via Zoom or other videoconferencing platform at the times indicated in the York Courses website (Synchronously). Some of these courses will have both real-time and non-real-time components. All real-time components will also be recorded and made available to students who could not attend. 

Courses

Description: An introduction to Modern Persian and is intended for students with no active ability in reading and writing the standard language. It will develop basic aural, conversational, reading, and writing skills in the language. Note: A Placement Test will be required.

Open to: students with previous knowledge of spoken/informal Persian.

Not open to students with previous knowledge of formal/written Persian.

Description: This course continues the work covered at the introductory level. Focus is on acquiring more complex grammatical structures, expanding vocabulary and discourse skills, and on developing competence in a wide range of communicative situations. Open to students with some knowledge of Modern Persian.

Prerequisite: AP/PERS 1000 6.00 or Placement Test.

Description: Examines historical, cultural and social processes that have formed Iranian culture and civilization, ranging from ancient Persia to contemporary Iran. The course studies and analyzes Persian literature in translation. Texts are read in their historical, social, and political contexts to gain a thorough understanding of the history of Iran and the way culture is produced.

Description: This course is designed to introduce students to Iranian cinema. Students study the aesthetics and the socio-cultural impact of Iranian films. The Iranian national film industry is critically analyzed from historical and comparative perspectives.

Prerequisites: none.

Course credit exclusions: none.

Cross-listed to: AP/HUMA 2800 6.0

Description: This course continues the work covered at the intermediate level. Focus is on acquiring more advanced vocabulary, discourse skills and on analyzing communicative situations, especially in formal and literary situations.

Prerequisite: AP/PERS 2000 6.00 or by permission of the department. Course credit exclusions: None.

Open to: Students who have passed junior high school in Persian or who have the equivalent level of knowledge of Modern Persian.

Description: Explores the representation of femininity, masculinity, gender conventions, misconceptions and relations in modern Middle Eastern cinemas. Students study the confluence of film and culture in selected Middle Eastern countries. Cinematic works are examined in their multicultural, multi-ethnic and cross-national contexts. The course concentrates on the aesthetic representation of contemporary issues such as nationalist movements, women's movements, decolonization and neo-colonization, foreign occupation, war and revolutions that have affected gender roles and sexual attitudes in the region.

Questions?

Contact Khatereh Sheibani sheibani@yorku.ca for help with academic and administrative questions.