Previous language study is not required. Students at all levels of language ability are invited to apply.

Persian (Tajiki) Summer Program

Standard Persian is divided into three modern varieties: Farsi spoken in Iran, Dari in Afghanistan, and Tajiki in Tajikistan. Participants in the Persian summer program will study the Tajiki dialect of Persian, including study of the Cyrillic script, focusing on the following four language skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. These four language skills will be developed through in-class language instruction, cultural presentations and activities, volunteer work, and host family stays. Living with host families and communicating with local peers offers participants unique opportunities to utilize their language skills and gain insights into traditional Tajiki culture.

Program Location: Tajikistan
Program Dates: Summer programs last six to seven weeks and typically start in mid-June to early July and end in early to mid-August.
Accommodations: Combination of group housing and host family stays

Why Persian? “Studying Persian provides an entry into a rich and diverse culture. Major epic and Sufi poets—such as Ferdowsi, Rumi, and Hafez—have served as inspiration to writers and creators across the globe for centuries, and contemporary Persian-language literature continues to find international audiences.” Read more.

Good to know: Tajiki, Farsi, and Dari are quite similar lexically and grammatically. The primary difference is the alphabets used to write each dialect and the pronunciation of certain letters. Tajiki itself is comprised of many separate dialects because of the mountainous topography of the country and foreign language influence and integration of cognates into the language.

Fun fact! The word “checkmate” derives from the Persian phrase “Shah Mat,” meaning, “the King is dead.”

Pre- and Post-Program Expectations

All participants will be required to participate in pre-program language learning programs, as guided by their implementing organization. All participants will be required to complete a pre-program survey, pre-program language assessments (except for those with no prior target language exposure), and several post-program surveys and language tests.

Find more information on Tajikistan on the U.S. Embassy site.

Explore multimedia stories about NSLI-Y Persian (Tajiki) summer program on NSLI-Y Interactive.