Reading: An article about the Zoroastrian community in Iran and their struggle to remain in the country or to leave.
Listening: A blog video based on a visit to Yazd from the YouTube channel The Gate of History, providing an overview of major Zoroastrian festivals, rituals, and cultural practices in Iran.
Subject of Conversation: What does a minority need to survive? (اقلیتی برای بقای خود به چه نیاز دارد؟)
In this discussion, students will explore the challenges faced by minority communities, using the case of the Zoroastrians in Iran as a starting point. They will reflect on the factors that contribute to the survival of a minority group and express their ideas using new vocabulary from the day's reading and listening materials. The goal is to help students practice formulating arguments, expressing abstract ideas clearly, and engaging in thoughtful dialogue in Persian.
Homework:
- Please read today’s article and study the vocabulary.
- Answer the question “What does a minority need to survive?” (in around 300 words).
- Conduct some background research to be well-prepared for tomorrow’s discussion.
Vocabulary (Reading):
| Persian Word | Transcription | English Translation |
| زرتشتی | zartošti | Zoroastrian |
| پذیرش | pazireš | accepting |
| دو راهی | dorāhi | dilemma |
| بازمانده | bāzmānde | remnants |
| فنا | fanā | death, extinction |
| بقا | baqā | survival, existence |
| گزینه | gozine | option, choice |
| دو وجهی | dovajhi | two-sided |
| رویارویی | ruyāruyi | facing |
| دایمی | dāyemi | permanent |
| دیرین | dirin | ancient, old |
| اهریمن | ahriman | Ahriman, the evil spirit, who created all that is evil. The Zoroastrian equivalent of Satan. |
| اهورامزدا | ahurāmazdā | Ahura Mazda, the good creator. |
| آموزه ها | āmuzehā | teachings |
| تصرف | tasarrof | (here) appropriation; occupation |
| اموال (مفرد: مال) | amvāl (sing. māl) | property |
| املاک | amlāk | real estate |
| انجمن | anjoman | association |
| قانع کننده | qāne’konande | satisfying |
| موقوفات | mouqufāt | endowments |
| در ازای ... | dar ezā-ye ... | in exchange for sth |
| اجاره | ejāre | rent |
| زیارتگاه | ziyāratgāh | place of pilgrimage, shrine |
| استقرار | esteqrār | establishment (e.g. of a government) |
| ترغیب شدن | tarγib šodan | to be encouraged |
| مهجور | mahjur | abandoned |
Vocabulary (Listening):
| Persian Word | Transcription | English Translation |
| پرستیدن | parastidan | to worship |
| چکیده | čakide | extract, summary |
| آتشکده | ātaškade | fire temple |
| دخمه | daxme | burial chamber |
| مربوط به | marbut be | related to |
| زیارتگاه | ziyāratgāh | pilgrimage site |
| سر زدن | sar zadan | to visit briefly, to show up |
| فوق‌العاده | fouqol‘āde | extraordinary |
| موبد | mobad | Zoroastrian priest |
| به قتل رسیدن | be qatl residan | to be killed, to be murdered |
| مجموعه | majmu‘e | collection, complex |
| شناسایی شدن | šenāsāyi šodan | to be identified |
| شروط (مفرد: شرط) | šorut (sing. šart) | conditions |
| توصیه شدن | tousiye šodan | to be recommended |
| تالار | tālār | hall |
| سالیانه | sāliyāne | annually |
| ماهیانه | māhiyāne | monthly |
| تقویم | taqvim | calendar |
| راجع به | rāje‘ be | about, regarding |
| جاودنگی | jāvdānegi | immortality |
| اندیشه نیک | andiše-ye nik | good thought |
| از خودگذشتگی | az xodgozaštegi | self-sacrifice |
| به استقبال رفتن | be esteqbāl raftan | to go to welcome |
| گلاب | golāb | rosewater |