Overview

Persian Language and Culture is an asynchronous, self-paced introductory language and culture course, expected to take approximately 5 hours to complete.  Explore the nuances of the Persian language, acquiring essential communication skills. Embark on a tasty adventure exploring the diverse flavors of Iranian cuisine and discovering its culinary heritage. Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Iranian cinema, tracing its evolution in post 1979 Islamic Revolution. Lastly, discover the vibrant tapestry of Iranian youth culture and music, exploring the dynamic expressions that have emerged in the aftermath of significant historical shifts. This course offers a holistic understanding of Persian language and culture, providing a diverse and enriching educational experience.

What You Will Learn

Along with a general introduction to Iran and Persian culture, the course is broken down into four core topics. What you can expect to learn in each section of the course is outlined below.

Iranian Food and Hospitality

• Explore the rich and diverse flavors, ingredients, and cooking techniques that define Iranian cuisine, cultivating an appreciation for its culinary richness.
• Acknowledge the pivotal role of Persian cuisine in shaping and preserving Iran's cultural heritage, recognizing its profound cultural significance.
• Uncover the unique regional variations of delectable Persian dishes, discovering the diverse culinary landscape across different geographical areas of the country.
• Delve into the multifaceted world of Iranian gastronomy, understanding how it contributes to the tapestry of cultural diversity and culinary excellence.

The Persian Language and Alphabet

• Recognize the written form of individual letters in the Persian alphabet.
• Associate Persian letters with their accurate pronunciation.
• Read signs, names, words, labels using the Persian alphabet.

Persian Cinema

• Enumerate notable filmmakers in Iran.
• Examine prevalent themes and techniques found in Iranian cinema.
• Analyze Iranian films from a variety of perspectives, including themes (dramatic structure, historical events, characterization, family relationships, symbolism) and ideology (political, moral, power structure, and social statements).

The Youth Movement and Music in Iran

• Comprehend the profound shifts resulting from the cultural policies implemented by the new Islamic government.
• Explore the restrictions imposed on Western-style pop music and the banning of certain genres due to their perceived impact on traditional Islamic values.
• Understand the emergence of a domestic music industry rooted in Iranian cultural elements, giving rise to distinctive genres like Iranian pop, rock, and hip-hop with evident Islamic influences.
• Recognize the pivotal role played by these music genres in shaping the cultural landscape during the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement in 2022.

About Course Technology

This course uses H5P and ThingLink to provide interactive course content to learners in the form of interactive videos, interactive presentations, and more. If you require assistance in or experience difficulties completing assignments that use H5P or ThingLink, please contact the College of Arts and Sciences Office of Distance Education at ascode@osu.edu. Accommodation and assistance will be arranged for you as appropriate free from penalty.

Hardware

• Computer: Tablet and/or Smart Phone: Mac (OS X 10.10+) or PC (Windows 7+) computer; iPad/iPhone (iOS 7+) or Android (4.2+)
• Internet: High-speed internet connection
• Microphone: Built-in laptop or tablet mic or external microphone

Software

• Browser: Google Chrome

Because this course relies heavily on interactive content created using H5P and ThingLink, it is highly recommended that you use Google Chrome when participating and completing activities within this course. Some content may not function in other browsers.

Technical specifications

Accessibility for The College of Arts and Sciences ScarletCanvas courses relies on the following technologies to work with the particular combination of web browser and any assistive technologies or plugins installed on your computer:

• HTML
• CSS 
• JavaScript

These technologies are relied upon for conformance with the accessibility standards used.

If you have any questions about this course, please contact The Office of Distance Education at ascode@osu.edu.