Persian Language Summer School
10 weeks (or 4-9 weeks), from Jun 23, 2024 to Aug 30, 2024

Yerevan, Armenia

Apply Now

Apply by May 15, 2024

Price: $5,490

Discounted Price: $4,990 (If payment done until Mar 21, 2024)

The Armenian School of Languages and Cultures - ASPIRANTUM, is organizing a Persian language summer school in Yerevan, Armenia. You can start the program on June 23, June 30, or July 7, 2024, and stay up to 10 weeks until August 30, 2024. If you prefer a shorter program, there are options for 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 weeks. To get more information and apply, please refer to the details below.

The testimonials of ASPIRANTUM Persian language summer, winter, and online school alumni are available here: https://aspirantum.com/testimonials 

9 students have already confirmed participation in the 2024 Persian language summer school. See their profiles on ASPIRANTUM's Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aspirantumcom/

Registration for the 4-week course has reached maximum capacity and is now closed. We encourage you to apply for our 5-10 week program.

2024 Persian language summer school will help the participants master skills in written and oral modern Persian, read and interpret Persian texts from different periods, and rapidly deepen their knowledge in colloquial Persian.
Below, in the application form, you may select a 4-10 weeks (80 - 200 hours) program starting from June 23, June 30, or July 7, 2024 (please ensure that you include the preferred start date in the "Other information" field of your application form below). 

10 weeks - 200 contact hours (1 hour = 60 minutes)
9 weeks - 180 contact hours
8 weeks - 160 contact hours
7 weeks - 140 contact hours
6 weeks - 120 contact hours
5 weeks - 100 contact hours
4 weeks - 80 contact hours

The ten-week Persian language summer school offers 200 hours of intensive Persian language classes for 50 days (from Monday to Friday each week). Every day the participants will receive Persian language instruction for 4 hours and after-class lectures, and extra training. The classes start in the mornings, and the schedule is the following:

09:00 - 10:00 - Persian language class
10:00 - 10:10 - Coffee Break
10:10 - 11:10 - Persian language class
11:10 - 11:20 - Coffee Break
11:20 - 12:30 - Persian language class
12:30 - 12:40 - Coffee Break
12:40 - 13:40 - Persian language class (fourth and final class)

During the Persian language summer classes, the following components will be covered every day to foster the Persian language knowledge of participants:

Grammar: Everyday class will cover the main grammatical concepts of the modern Persian language as well as parallels with classical Persian.
Vocabulary: During the 10 weeks course it is anticipated that the participants will learn around 1500 new Persian words from literary language as well as words used in everyday life.
Listening: The classes are scheduled so that participants, with the guidance of an experienced instructor, learn the Persian language through songs and movies and watch and listen to the news and other short videos about interesting and sometimes funny topics and stories about Iranian realities.
Speaking: Every day the Persian language classes will push the students to exercise their speaking abilities through discussions, conversations, and role-plays about different texts and topics.
Writing: Each day, the participants of the Persian language class will have assignments and homework to complete for the next day, and the homework will primarily involve writing assignments.
Reading: Everyday students will read and discuss political texts, prose and poetry, conversations, and news. The corpus of texts to be read and discussed during the classes comprises different prominent Persian authors, daily conversations as well as news of the day.

The students will receive a detailed syllabus of each day’s class. You can find the syllabus on the website https://aspirantum.com/curriculum/persian-intermediate-syllabus The “Learn Persian through the Shahname” course https://aspirantum.com/curriculum/learning-persian-through-shahname-syllabus and “Learn Persian through Rumi's Masnavi” course https://aspirantum.com/curriculum/learn-persian-through-rumi-masnavi-syllabus may be included in the 8 weeks school program.

Levels:
This Persian language school is designed for participants, at least 18 years old, who want to make well-grounded progress in their knowledge of the Persian language and deepen their knowledge of Persian grammar, colloquial speech, and literary language.

The Persian language summer school 2024 will have 1 or 2 groups of up to 12 participants each (the ASPIRANTUM Persian language groups during the last five years have usually had two groups with 2-11 students in each group). The participants must have an upper-elementary, lower-intermediate, and intermediate level of Persian language knowledge before starting the classes with ASPIRANTUM. Below are the descriptions of mentioned levels:

1. Upper elementary level (A1-A2):
You know the alphabet and can read words and expressions sometimes with difficulties; You can write words, expressions, and sentences in Persian; You master specific typical phrases in Persian and know how to write them; You barely understand everyday Persian language

2. Lower intermediate level (A2):
You have a certain amount of difficulty in understanding the Persian language except in very precise situations; You are capable of having a simple conversation in Persian; You understand a simple written text or isolated words in Persian; You still make a lot of mistakes in expressions, vocabulary, and grammar

3. Intermediate level (A2-B1):
You manage to enter into a discussion but do not always find the appropriate turns of phrase in Persian; You manage to express your opinion in Persian and to understand the person you're speaking with; You understand voice recordings (radio, telephone, answering machine, skype, etc.); You have difficulty understanding a person who speaks quickly; You still make pronunciation, grammar, and precision mistakes.

Our instructors of the Persian language have extensive experience teaching students of mentioned levels in one group in a way that all students have a rapid growth in their knowledge of the Persian language. Depending on the number of students, the ASPIRANTUM Persian language summer school may have two groups, where the students will be split according to their levels (in 2019, 2021 and 2022 we had two groups, in 2023 we had 1 group).

Assessment:
Before the classes start, the instructor of Persian will send a written test to all confirmed participants and have a video call with them to assess their knowledge of Persian prior to the start of the school. By the end of each week, an interim exam will be organized, and the students will pass a final exam to assess their advancement during school.

ASPIRANTUM’s Persian language schools are organized so that undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, professors, and anyone interested in learning Persian benefit from it the most. So, everyone with upper elementary, lower-intermediate, and intermediate levels of Persian is welcome to apply and participate in ASPIRANTUM’s Persian language summer school from June 23 to August 30 in Yerevan.

Regular Deadline:
The deadline to apply to the 2024 Persian language summer school is May 15, 2024.

To apply, please fill in the application form below.

Deadline for discounted fee:
March 21, 2024 (see discount details in the “Participation fee” section below).

Participation fee:
The participation fee is: 

$6390 - 10 weeks. Below, in the application form, you may also select a 4-9 weeks program.
$5890 - 9 weeks
$5490 - 8 weeks. 
$4990 - 7 weeks
$4490 - 6 weeks
Registration for the 4-week and 5-week course is now closed.
$3990 - 5 weeks
$3490 - 4 weeks

Discount:
If you apply before March 15, 2024, and make the payment by March 21, 2024, the participation fee will be:
$5890 - 10 weeks
$5490 - 9 weeks
$4990 - 8 weeks
$4490 - 7 weeks
$3990 - 6 weeks
Registration for the 4-week and 5-week course is now closed.
$3590 - 5 weeks
$2990 - 4 weeks

This price includes reading and writing materials, coffee breaks, welcome and farewell parties, transportation and meal costs during cultural trips, and some dinners with guest speakers.

We will not cover accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, visa costs, insurance, travel costs to Armenia, from Armenia and in Armenia, or any costs of accompanying friends or family members.

To apply, please fill in the application form below.

Registered participants should send 100% of the participation fee before May 30, 2024.

Trips in Armenia
- During the eight weeks of international Persian language summer school, five trips will be organized to Armenia's most famous cultural heritage sites. The school will start with a trip to the Garni pagan temple and Geghard Monastery. During four other weekends, the participants will have guided trips to Amberd fortress, Lake Sevan, Ejmiatsin, Tsaghkadzor, Bjni, etc. 

Accommodation in Yerevan
- Previously, our summer and winter school participants have found great accommodation deals through Airbnb. Airbnb works perfectly in Yerevan, and it is very easy to search and find a proper place. ASPIRANTUM staff is always ready to guide you and help to find the best accommodation through Airbnb. Please also check our detailed guide about how to find accommodation in Yerevan

Scholarships
- Several scholarships are available to participate in ASPIRANTUM’s Persian language summer school. For details on scholarships, please check our "scholarships" section.
Each summer school participant may find other sources of financial aid from their own University/School/Community or other relevant foundations.

- Letter of Invitation
ASPIRANTUM will offer applicants an official invitation letter to support scholarship and travel grant applications.

For questions and inquiries, please contact [email protected] or WhatsApp Dr. Khachik Gevorgyan at +374-91-557978

Important Notice Regarding Summer School Applications: Your Attention Required

Dear Applicants,

It has come to our attention that there might have been some oversight in communication. We understand that life gets busy, but it's crucial for us to maintain effective communication throughout the application process.

Over the past decade, we've encountered numerous instances of what we refer to as "ghost applications." These are applications from individuals who, after submitting their application, fail to respond to our subsequent emails despite multiple reminders. This pattern significantly slows down our process and creates unnecessary delays for all applicants.

We want to emphasize that our team invests significant time and effort into reviewing applications and ensuring a smooth application experience for all candidates. When applicants fail to respond to our emails, it not only disrupts our workflow but also reflects poorly on the professionalism and integrity of the application process.

To ensure fairness and transparency for all applicants, we have decided to implement a new policy. Moving forward, applicants who fail to respond to our communications without any prior notice will be listed on a dedicated page as "Ghost Applicants."

We genuinely hope that it doesn't come to this. Our aim is to foster an environment of mutual respect and understanding throughout the application process.

If, for any reason, you need more time or assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to support you and ensure a smooth application experience.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

To apply, please fill in the application form below.

Testimonials

  • “I was able to improve my Persian in a country that borders Iran and shares many cultural similarities and a lot of history. I recommend the program to any student looking to experience both Persian language learning and adventure.”
    Atussa Mohtasham
    PhD student, Princeton University, USA
  • “Daily Persian classes expanded my vocabulary, improved my speaking abilities and introduced me to some lovely classical poetry.”
    Avanti Divan
    BA student, Princeton University, USA
  • “I left the program inspired, eager for more, and would most happily return for another summer. Studying at ASPIRANTUM was one of the best learning experiences of my student life.”
    Christopher "Carson" Conlon
    MA student, University of Oxford, UK
  • “My teacher’s patience and rich background knowledge made each class an exciting experience that I looked forward to each day and she always provided ample opportunities to practice and improve even without us asking, which I am enormously grateful for.”
    Daniel Wolfe
    Undergraduate Student, Georgetown University, USA
  • “All the classes were simultaneously very laidback and very rigorous; I couldn’t recommend ASPIRANTUM more to anyone who wants to improve their Persian.”
    Matt Gooder
    BA student, University of Oxford, UK
  • “I have been a part of many study abroad programs, and this has been by far the best I had the pleasure of participating in. I feel I learned the most in ASPIRANTUM’s course because it was so uniquely tailored to the needs of the students, and connected diverse cultures and history into the language instruction, as well as being located in a multicultural, multilingual, and welcoming environment.”
    Reilly Barry
    AM Candidate in Middle Eastern Studies, Harvard University, USA

Teachers

Vardan Voskanian profile image

Vardan Voskanian

Instructor of Persian Language

Vardan Voskanian has 22 years’ experience of teaching Persian to foreign students in an unforgettable way.

Course Syllabus

Intermediate Persian Syllabus

Each day’s lesson is a combination of grammar, reading, listening, conversation, drills and exercises. Reading includes various types of materials, from standard and media texts to modern and classical literature, poetry and prose. As a requirement of an intensive course, students are highly recommended to prepare ahead for each coming lesson—review the grammar, read the material(s) for the following lesson and do the homework: composition, listening to the audios, watching the videos and some exercises to optimize their contribution in the class and speed up their pace of learning.

Learn More

Scholarships for Persian Language Courses

Boren Awards for US students

The Boren Awards fund the intensive study of language and culture abroad by U.S. undergraduate or graduate students. All eligible applicants have the option to either apply for a Regional Flagship Language Initiative or select/design their own study program.

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Critical Language Scholarships (CLS) for US students

The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for American students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. The program includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language gains.

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Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships Program for US students

The Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships program provides allocations of academic year and summer fellowships to institutions of higher education or consortia of institutions of higher education to assist meritorious undergraduate students and graduate students undergoing training in modern foreign languages and related area or international studies. Eligible students apply for fellowships directly to an institution that has received an allocation of fellowships from the U.S. Department of Education.

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Scholarships for Persian language courses from ARMACAD

ARMACAD is offering 10 scholarships to students who meet the eligibility criteria and are interested in learning Persian in Armenia.

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Apply

After you fill in all fields and press the APPLY button you will receive an email with the copy of your application, which will confirm, that we have received your application. If you do not receive the mentioned email with the copy of your application form within 20 minutes please send an email to us at [email protected]

See Other Persian Language Courses

Persian Language Semester Program, from Aug 18, 2024 to Dec 06, 2024 (16 weeks)

Armenian School of Languages and Cultures - ASPIRANTUM is organizing the seventh 16-week Persian language semester program in Yerevan, Armenia. The seventh 16-week semester program of Persian language will start on August 18, 2024, and will last till December 6, 2024 (111 days, 300 hours of Persian language instruction).

Learn More