This course extends on the skillset developed in Intermediate Persian A, itself a foundation on Introductory Persian A and B. It involves a more detailed presentation of functions of the language, oral and aural practice, and reading of texts and the writing of compositions that incorporate features of the language already presented through some important cultural issues. On completion of this subject students will have acquired upper-intermediate proficiency in Persian conversational forms, a versatile proficiency in understanding written structures and an ability to formulate such structures, an understanding of some of the commonly used grammatical structures of Persian and the ability to apply them in speech and writing, the ability to interpret messages of an average complexity occurring in audio-visual media and in individual and group spoken forms, and familiarity with some of the dominant cultural ideas and forms of Persian culture and history.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. demonstrate sufficient reading comprehension to understand factual material in nontechnical prose as well as most discussion on concrete and abstract topics using relevant knowledge of linguistic and cultural context, including with unfamiliar material;
2. speak with understandable pronunciation and initiate and maintain predictable face-to-face conversations to satisfy both regular and uncommon social demands with fundamentally correct grammar, accurate and suitable use of verbs and tenses, and suitable vocabulary, including both in formal, standard, and colloquial Persian;
3. write correspondence and compositions on academic topics as well as about daily situations, current events and describe surroundings and causation with good control of morphology, punctuation and grammatical conventions at an upper-intermediate level; and
4. comprehend and engage in medium-length conversations and trade questions about personal, social, cultural, and historical issues with flexibility in understanding a range of circumstances beyond basic survival needs in all tenses.