Testimonial by Christoph Matyssek

From June 23 until August 23, 2024 I participated in the Persian Summer Program of Aspirantum in the intermediate level. I chose the course to improve my language skills in Persian that I need on a daily basis for my work with the Persian community in Vienna.

In my opinion my experience with Aspirantum could not have been better! I am very grateful to our teachers, Prof. Voskanian and his assistant Ani Margaryan, who did a great job in transmitting and activating the language! It was not just an encounter with the language, but with its people and its historical, cultural, political… context and heritage. 

I already started to use what I have learned, to speak without fear and I am even more motivated to continue my studies. Besides the new passive and active language skills I am particularly happy about the up to date method standard with which we were taught and which I can apply now for myself, not having the possibility to attend other live classes. The way we learned how to read texts and listen to native speakers and then to activate the language in the daily context I can use now by myself. Of course, and unfortunately, I can’t enjoy any more the etymological excursions and deep insights into the language of  Prof. Voskanian or the dedication with which Ani walked with us and corrected our assignments. But I can draw now from this treasure of many sources that the syllabus contains and the links that Ani provided to us. 

I have to admit, in the beginning it was kind of hard, since right from the first day we were confronted with original materials and not with simplified text book resources. But in the course of the program I started to like this approach and to see its benefits. 

When I could suggest anything, there would be only one detail, I might wish a little bit different. Since every week we were confronted with new contents and topics, and especially with a huge amount of new vocabulary, even though it built up one to the other, it was hard to digest and not to loose what we just had learned. Therefore I would suggest a kind of recaps in the last Friday classes, that help and motivate to overlook and retake what you have learned so far.

Besides the excellent level of teaching and preparation of our teachers and our classes, I also enjoyed the context in which our summer program took place. In particular, I want to thank Khachik not only for setting up the program and making it possible but also for the unique way it was done! 

I was new to Armenia and the Caucasus, and therefore curious and happy about this coincidence to learn Persian in this country. For the very first moment, even before arriving I felt already taken care of, with ease in everything and very welcome! This mix of personal attention, practical help, huge amount of hospitality and human warmth, and besides the daily classes, granting a true encounter with the host country and a huge insight into many dimensions of its culture, politics….. made these days a particular rich experience. I enjoyed to learn that way to see the world from a different angle and a new perspective. 

I am also grateful for all the occasions Aspirantum provided to discover on the weekends by trips, dinners and other invitations the beauty and different realities of Armenia. In this way it also created an atmosphere and space to encounter also the other fellow students from many different countries and backgrounds and to share with them these great days. I have to admit that I was one of the older ones, but I had the impression that we were a good mix of university students, young professionals and some who joined out of passion for the language.  

There is good chance that in the near future I will come back to visit Armenia, to make my students participate in this so beautiful experience I had this summer.