About the Center for Teaching Persian to Speakers of Other Languages

Center for Teaching Persian to Speakers of Other Languages

Allameh Tabataba'i University is a public university specialized in the two main areas of humanities and social sciences. The university has twelve major divisions, including ten faculties, a college, and a Persian Language Teaching Center.

The Center for Teaching Persian to Speakers of Other Languages (CTPSOL) of Allameh Tabataba'i University is located in the heart of Tehran. The traditional architecture of this center is a symbol of Iranian authenticity and culture. At this center, short-term and long-term Persian language courses are held in-person and virtually (online), employing the latest scientific methods. Persian learners at this center can receive partial education in Iran and continue the rest in their own country or elsewhere. This center has various other features as well:

Persian teaching based on a task-oriented educational program with new teaching methods
Persian teaching with the Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) methods
Constant presence among Persian speakers and immersion in real-life situations
Persian learning combined with sightseeing in Tehran and Iran
Persian learning through participation in art workshops, handicrafts, and extracurricular events
Persian learning for specific purposes such as business, journalism, Iranian studies, Persian literature, tourism, medical tourism, etc.
Persian language learning and translation
Persian learning for academic purposes
Persian learning for children

Educational Courses

The educational program of this center is Iran's most similar program to internationally recognized frameworks such as CEFR and ACTFL. This program, called SRTP, includes 760 hours of training and is from novice to advanced level. In addition to general Persian courses, special courses are also held in this center:

Skill-based Persian learning (teacher training, translator training, hotel management, etc.)
Persian learning with special purposes (tourism, industry and trade, literature, law, medical tourism, religious tourism, commercial tourism, etc.)
Persian learning with academic purposes (medical field, engineering, humanities and social sciences, basic sciences)
Cultural and artistic workshops with Persian as an interface language (calligraphy, handicrafts, etc.)

Distance Learning and Online Courses

Virtual education is conducted in two forms: synchronous education (holding classes online) and asynchronous education (holding classes offline). Additionally, this center, by utilizing the latest blended learning models, provides the opportunity for its audience to receive part of their education in Iran and continue the rest in their own country or anywhere else they prefer. Furthermore, some classes are held in a hybrid format, where some Persian learners attend in person, while others participate virtually.

Educational Resources

Educational books based on communication approaches
Open educational resources
Multimedia content and educational podcasts
Pedagogical and learner corpora

Lecturers of CTPSOL

The lecturers of this center are graduates of Teaching Persian to Non-Persian Speakers who have years of experience teaching the Persian language to foreigners with up-to-date knowledge and modern methods. Attending their classes reveals the true meaning of a language teacher as a coach.

Cultural Programs

Nature tours
Visits to museums and historical sites in Iran
Calligraphy courses
Handicraft-making courses
Free discussion courses on historical, cultural, and artistic topics.
Cultural and sports festivals
Traditional Iranian ceremonies such as Nowruz, Yalda, etc.

Center Facilities

Educational building: includes classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards (IWB), a conference hall, and a dining hall
Content recording studio, a permanent exhibition of Iranian handicrafts, a permanent exhibition of nations, a library, and equipped sports facilities
Separate dormitories for girls and boys with appropriate amenities