Online course

Is there anyone who loves to learn languages? 

I have a good news for you! 

Currently, I am designing my first online course, which gives you a chance to learn a language. Could you guess the language? 

It’s Persian or Farsi

After thinking deeply, I decided to choose an unusual content for my course and wanted to try teaching another language rather than English. For years, I have a desire to learn Persian because of its rich and captivating poetry; last year I started to learn it. Although, I’m not an expert in Persian yet, I will be trying to share what I have learnt as an online course. 

This course is called “Easy Persian”. It is for anyone who wants to learn Persian language. The course covers the basics of Persian involving from alphabet, numbers, family, adjectives, etc. to the greeting, introducing oneself so on. All of which involved in 5 units. Even though, the course is the beginner level, the learners will gain many information and knowledge, which can help them to have a simple conversation about themselves and their family. The online course has clear objectives as Alharbi suggests the clear objectives help the learners to understand what they will learn and achieve until the end of the course (2019). Moreover, the course includes various types of media as videos, audios, PDF files and pictures as well in order to cater different learning styles of the learners (Brame, 2016). To promote the engagement and motivation, as Hollister et al. (2022) highlight, interactive learning activities are involved in the course, such as quizzes, individual and pair works and projects as well. Furthermore, each unit has Task sections involves at least two activity related to the content of the unit, which is a means of formative assessment.  At the end of the course the learners will have Final Assessment as an individual work that is to make a video about their families.  

The aim of the “Easy Persian” course is to equip the learners with basic skills in Persian language and enable them to make a conversation in simple everyday situations. 

The objectives of the course : At the end of the course the learners will be able to read and write Persian script, greet, introduce oneself and family members.  Moreover, they will be able to count and speak about age, professions and characters in Persian language.  

The content of the course:

Unit 1. Introduction to Persian. 

       - Overview of Persian language

       - Persian alphabet and script 

       - Task 

Unit 2. Greeting and introducing oneself

        - Greetings and basic vocabulary 

        - Introducing oneself

        - Task 

Unit 3. "To be" , Professions and Adjectives 

        - "to be" in Persian language 

        - Professions and Adjectives

        - Task

Unit 4. Numbers and Age

        - Numbers in Persian 

        - Telling age in Persian 

        - Task

Unit 5. Family members 

        - Family members 

        - Introducing family members 

        - Task

Final Assessment 

        - Video about you and your family

Reference list

Brame, C.J. (2016). Effective Educational Videos: Principles and Guidelines for Maximizing Student Learning from Video Content. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 15 (4). Available from https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.16-03-0125.

Hollister, B. et al. (2022). Engagement in Online Learning: Student Attitudes and Behavior During COVID-19. Frontiers in Education, 7 (2). Available from https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.851019.

M A, A. (2019). The Impact of Clear Learning Objectives on Student Engagement and Learning Outcomes in Online Courses . The Journal of Educational Technology and Science , 22 (3), 45–46.