Testimonial by Kalli Patrick

Student, United States Military Academy at West Point

16 weeks 2024 Persian Language Semester Program

As a graduating student of the ASPIRANTUM semester abroad program, I can say that the academic and personal growth I have achieved due to this program has been immeasurable. 

When I arrived in Yerevan, Armenia, I was new to traveling and had not had the chance to interact with people of different cultures. After living here for four months, I have gained a greater understanding and appreciation of Armenian culture. The many excursions outside of the city that ASPIRANTUM has taken us on, allowed us to see the many cultural and historical places of Armenia. 

That said, not only did ASPIRANTUM familiarize us with the culture of Armenia, but this program broadened our understanding of Iranian culture as part of our Persian curriculum. We were able to interact with Persian-speaking people and utilize the language skills we gained in class in a practical way. 

The Persian language curriculum covered a broad array of topics from art and history to popular media and literature. Since completing the program, my Persian speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills have increased exponentially. I can talk about a range of topics such as international relations and well as classical poetry and religion. However, the curriculum would only have been half as engaging had it not been for the passion and competence of our instructors. Professor Voskanian is extremely knowledgeable about Persian history, modern culture, linguistics, and endless other facets in the field of Persian language. His instruction, coupled with the help of Mr. Nikoghosyan, our assistant professor, has made me into a more competent student of Persian. 

In addition, the lifelong friendships that I have formed with my fellow students have been incomparable. 

I highly recommend this program to anyone seeking to grow as a Persian learner. 

Interested? Check Upcoming Persian Language Courses!


Our Persian language courses are open to anyone with upper elementary or intermediate knowledge of the Persian language. The lectures are organized with the academic interests of our participants in mind. Students as well as researchers working in Iranian Studies and relevant fields will benefit the most from our courses.

Check Upcoming Courses

Other Testimonials.

Grace Stapelberg

Student, University of Oxford, UK

“Thanks to the wonderful teachers at this program, my Persian has improved immensely. Learning with other students under the instruction of Professor Vardan and Ruben was an incredible experience.”

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Grace Martin

Student, United States Military Academy at West Point

“The instructors are passionate, patient, and experts in their fields. You won’t find more qualified instructors anywhere else. Their vast knowledge of the language, its origins, and uses today is unmatched.”

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Cerys Griffiths

Student, University of Oxford, UK

“Studying at ASPIRANTUM was a brilliant experience during which I not only greatly improved my Persian language ability but met an interesting variety of students from across the globe.”

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