Testimonial by Kalli Patrick

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.