Listening: For the listening section, we’ve selected scenes from Iranian movies and series that showcase Persian conversations in various settings – Listening 1 [Timecodes: 19:30–28:06; 1:19:45–1:25:00], Listening 2 [Timecode: 19:55–25:40], Listening 3 [Timecode: 30:15–37:40]. These clips contain colloquial dialogues that might occur between native Persian speakers in different situations. Watching and analyzing them will help students better understand and appreciate the subtitles of modern Iranian vernacular and culture.
Subject of Conversation: Colloquial Persian conversations (گفتگو‌ها به فارسی محاوره‌ای)
The students will be divided into pairs, each of which will choose (or be assigned) a realistic everyday situation to role-play. The goal is to sustain a natural conversation, using a wide range of vocabulary and expressions in informal, spoken Persian. Students are encouraged to expand their dialogue beyond the initial scenario,hile keeping the language conversational and authentic. Here are some example situations that may be used:
- Two friends making weekend plans,
- Reconnecting after not seeing each other for a while,
- Inviting a friend to a dinner/cultural event,
- Shopping in a grocery store/a traditional carpet shop,
- Meeting a friend’s parents for the first time,
- Thanking someone for a gift or favor, and continuing the conversation (e.g., offering to return the favor, asking how they’re doing),
- A casual disagreement or negotiation (e.g. which movie to watch),
- Dealing with a small problem or misunderstanding (e.g., forgetting a plan),
- Meeting a new neighbor and getting to know each other.
Homework:
- Compile a list of “rules” or patterns you notice in colloquial Persian (e.g., grammatical simplifications, word contractions and changes). Add the ones you discovered today, and continue building this list throughout the week.
- Think of two different situations and write short dialogues in colloquial Persian that could realistically occur in those contexts.
- Select an one-minute part from one of the movies or series watched in class today. Transcribe the colloquial Persian and then rewrite it in literary Persian.
Vocabulary (Listening 1 and Listening 2):
| Persian Word | Transcription | English Translation |
| تو را خدا | to rā xodā | for God’s sake |
| حال کردن | hāl kardan | to enjoy, to like |
| خوش آمدن | xoš āmadan | to enjoy, to find pleasant |
| خیال کسی راحت شدن | xiyāl-e kasi rāhat šodan | (someone) to be relieved |
| به درد کسی خوردن | be dard-e kasi xordan | to be useful (to someone), to serve someone’s purpose |
| یارو | yāru | that guy, that dude (ironic/casual/disrespectful) |
| عرض کردن | ‘arz kardan | to say, to express (formal) |
| اجازه | ejāze | permission |
| آت و آشغال | āt o āšqāl | junk, trash |
| راهنمایی | rāhnamāyi | guidance |
| مغز | maγz | brain |
| شغل | šoγl | job, occupation |
| مصرف کردن | masraf kardan | to consume |
| به چیزی آمدن | be čizi āmadan | to suit something |
| به سلامت | be salāmat | goodbye, take care |
| باحال | bāhāl | cool, fun |
| رنگ پریدن | rang paridan | to turn pale |
| بدهکار بودن | bedehkār budan | to be in debt |
| تعریف کردن | ta‘rif kardan | to tell (a story), to describe |
| بی‌حساب شدن | bihesāb šodan | to be even (with someone) |
| پشت بوم | pošt-e bum | rooftop |
| دیوانه‌بازی | divānebāzi | craziness, reckless behavior |
| آبروی کسی را بردن | ābru-ye kasi rā bordan | to ruin someone’s reputation |
| به هم ریختن | be ham rixtan | to get messed up |
| کوفت و زهرمار | kuft o zahremār | awful, disgusting (food or situation) |
| دلمرده | delmorde | lifeless, apathetic |
| ول کردن | vel kardan | to let go, to quit |
| خواب خرگوشی | xāb-e xarguši | deep/unaware sleep |
| خنچه، خوانچه | xonče | ceremonial food tray |
| عقب انداختن | ‘aqab andāxtan | to postpone |
| قاطی شدن | qāti šodan | to get involved |
| شهر شلوغ کن | šahršoluγkon | troublemaker, party crasher |
| اتفاقاً | etefāqan | actually, by the way |
| چراغانی کردن | čerāqāni kardan | to decorate with lights |
| حاجت | hājat | wish, need |
| استخاره | estexāre | divine guidance |
| مساعد | mosā‘ed | favorable, stable, improving |
| قربان کسی رفتن | qorbān-e kasi raftan | to dote on someone |
| خفه شو! | xafe šo! | shut up! |
| بی‌پدر و مادر | bipedar o mādar | bastard (insult) |
| طاقت کسی را طاق کردن | tāqat-e kasi rā tāq kardan | to make someone’s patience reach its limit |
| تقصیر | taqsir | fault, blame |
| بی‌شعور | bišo‘ur | idiot, ignorant |
| موکول کردن | moukul kardan | to postpone, to defer |
| در ضمن | dar zemn | by the way, additionally |