About this course
خواندن و نوشتنPersian uses a 32-letter alphabet written from right to left, with most letters joining to their neighbours and most short vowels left unwritten. That sounds daunting, but the system is logical and most learners read simple words within a fortnight. Each short video lesson introduces two or three letters, shows their joined forms, and finishes with reading and writing practice. Unit 4 puts it all to work on real material from the streets of Tehran.
Every lesson includes: a chaptered audio lesson to stream or download, a printable lesson guide with Persian script, transliteration and English, an audio word list, interactive exercises and a "mark complete" button that tracks your progress.
The Alphabet, Part 1
How the script works, and the first fifteen letters.
- 1How Persian script works: right to left and joiningMembers
- 2alef, ā and be: ا آ ب پMembers
- 3te and se: ت ثMembers
- 4nun and ye: ن یMembers
- 5The short vowelsMembers
- 6dāl, zāl, re, ze and zhe: د ذ ر ز ژMembers
- 7sin and shin: س شMembers
- 8mim: مMembers
- 9vāv: و and its three soundsMembers
- 10Review: your first fifty wordsMembers
The Alphabet, Part 2
The remaining letters, including the ones that share sounds.
Writing Well
The details that make your Persian look and read like a native's.
- 21tashdid and tanvinMembers
- 22The silent vāv in خواMembers
- 23Writing the ezāfeMembers
- 24The half-space (nim-fāsele)Members
- 25Persian numerals ۱۲۳Members
- 26Handwriting versus printMembers
- 27An introduction to NastaliqMembers
- 28Typing on a Persian keyboardMembers
- 29Dictation practiceMembers
- 30Review: writing a short letterMembers
Reading the Real World
Read genuine Iranian material: the payoff for all that practice.