Reading: For today’s reading, we have another excerpt (pages 215-217) from Helen Afshar’s “Iranian Identity”, focusing on the Kurdish population of Iran.
An additional material presenting the Kurds, from a scholarly article by Masoud Motalebi, is also recommended for reference.
Listening: This short documentary by Iran International provides insights about the future of Kurdistan, a region that exists in the minds of many Kurds but on the map, each part of it is a part of a different country.
Subject of Conversation: The Kurdish Question (مسئله‌ی کرد)
In this discussion, students will explore “The Kurdish Question” through the lens of language, identity, and regional politics. The conversation will encourage students to use key vocabulary from the reading and listening materials to express nuanced opinions in Persian. They will discuss how Kurds are perceived within Iran and the broader Middle East, while practicing argumentation, asking clarifying questions, and engaging inexchange of views – all in Persian.
Homework:
- Read the article of today and study the vocabulary.
- Watch the video and answer the following questions: a. What is the biggest genocide that the Kurds have been subjected to and who is responsible for that? b. Who were fighting on the first line of resistance, when ISIS attacked in 1393? c. What does the 11-year-old Aisha want to become when she grows up? d. What items are the Kurdish smugglers usually carrying into Iran?
- Prepare for tomorrow’s discussion.
Vocabulary (Book Excerpt):
| Persian Word | Transcription | English Translation |
| آریایی | āryāyi | Aryan |
| نواحی (مفرد: ناحیه) | navāhi (sing. nāhiyye) | regions |
| از حیث | az heys-e | with respect to, in regard to |
| اکثریت | aksariyyat | majority |
| اقلیت | aqalliyyat | minority |
| تعلق داشتن | ta‘alloq dāštan | to belong |
| در عوض | dar ‘avaz | instead, in return |
| همگونی | hamguni | homogeneity |
| در نگاه کلی | dar negāh-e kolli | in general terms |
| قلمرو | qalamrou | territory |
| احاطه شدن | ehāte šodan | to be surrounded |
| بروز نمودن | boruz nemudan | to appear |
| واگرا | vāgarā | divergent |
| رو به ضعف گذاشتن | ru be za‘f gozāštan | to weaken, to decline |
| شورش | šureš | uprising, rebellion |
| اعزامی | e‘zāmi | dispatched |
| خلیج اسکندرون | xalij-e Eskandarun | Gulf of Alexandretta |
| پیشروی | pišravi | advance, progression |
| سرکوب شدن | sarkub šodan | to be suppressed |
| به دار آویختن | be dār āvixtan | to hang (someone) |
| به وقوع پیوستن | be voqu‘ peyvastan | to occur, to take place |
| از هم گسیختگی | az ham gosixtegi | disintegration, fragmentation |
| ثبات | sobāt | stability |
| تشدیدکننده | tašdidkonande | intensifying |
Vocabulary (Listening):
| Persian Word | Transcription | English Translation |
| تپه‌ماهور | tappemāhur | moorland |
| برافراشته | barafrāšte | raised, elevated |
| مغرور | maγrur | proud |
| پراکنده بودن | parākande budan | to be scattered |
| کشتار | koštār | massacre |
| در هم آمیختن | dar ham āmikhtan | to mix together, to merge |
| قتل عام | qatl-e ‘ām | genocide, mass killing |
| تعجب‌آور | ta‘ajjobāvar | surprising |
| موجودیت سیاسی | moujudiyyat-e siyāsi | political entity |
| متعلق به | mota‘alleq be | belonging to |
| نسل‌کشی | naslkoši | genocide |
| زنده به گور شدن | zende be gur šodan | to be buried alive |
| سلاح شیمیایی | selāh-e šimiyāyi | chemical weapon |
| ناامید شدن | nāomid šodan | to become hopeless |
| اقلیم کردستان | eqlim-e Kordestān | Kurdistan Region |
| به رسمیت شناختن | be rasmiyyat šenāxtan | to recognize officially |
| نیروهای پیشمرگه | niruhā-ye pišmarge | Peshmerga forces |
| شایان توجه | šāyān-e tavajjoh | notable, remarkable |
| خط مقدم | xatt-e moqaddam | front line |
| گویی | guyi | as if, it seems |
| مخالفت کردن | moxālefat kardan | to oppose, to object |
| به اوج رسیدن | be ouj residan | to reach a peak |
| همه‌پرسی | hameporsi | referendum |
| قاطعانه | qāte‘āne | decisively |
| حریم هوایی | harim-e havāyi | airspace |
| نفت‌خیز | naftxiz | oil-rich |
| گسیل کردن | gosil kardan | to dispatch, to send |
| افسر | afsar | officer |
| تسلیحات | taslihāt | weapons, armaments |
| شکننده | šekanande | fragile, vulnerable |
| نفوذ | nofuz | influence, penetration |
| کولبر | kulbar | smuggler |
| جابجایی کالاها | jābejāyi-ye kālāhā | transportation of goods |
| جویا شدن | juyā šodan | to inquire, to ask |