Online Persian Institute

UT Austin will be expanding the Persian Summer Language Institute to include an online course for advanced and superior Persian, during the academic year 2012-2013. This course will allow us to create a "virtual classroom" that is ideal for language learning. Students will be able to work in small groups and pairs, or as a class, and they will be able to receive individualized attention just as they would in a normal language class. This innovative content-based program aims to push students toward advanced and superior proficiency in Persian (on the ACTFL scale) through a combination of proficiency-based communicative language instruction and discipline-based content on Iranian history and politics.

Building on the methodology and pedagogical approaches developed in UT's Persian Summer Language Institute, we will be offering a course on modern Iranian history and politics, taught entirely in Persian. Rather than having students watch pre-recorded lectures by the professor, this course combines independent student work with faculty-led student activities in a "virtual class" environment. This approach will provide students with the opportunity to express themselves in increasingly complex ways. The course will help students build a vocabulary base and repertoire of useful expressions, so that by the end of the course, students feel confident using the language in a variety of contexts.  The program is open to students and working professionals, UT affiliates and non-UT affiliates.

Course title and instructional staff

PRS 329 MODERN IRANIAN HISTORY AND POLITICS (in Persian)

Kamran Scot Aghaie, Associate Professor of Iranian History and Persian Studies, UT Austin

Blake Atwood, Lecturer of Persian, University of Pennsylvania

Course format

Thirty-week course runs from the first week of October of 2012 through the last week of May of 2013. The course requires approximately five and a half hours of work each week and offers opportunities for additional optional independent work. This includes one and a half hours of live online class-time and four hours of outside work per week.

Number of sections

In order to target students' specific strengths and weaknesses, we will be offering two sections or levels. This division will ensure that students improve more quickly and efficiently.

The superior level, which will be taught by Kamran Scot Aghaie, aims to push students who are at, or near, the superior level (ILR2+ through ILR3) to make progress toward the long-term goal of achieving near-native fluency.

The advanced level, which will be taught by Blake Atwood, aims to push students who are at the intermediate-high through advanced-mid levels (ILR1 + ILR2) toward higher advanced proficiency.

When will the live online classes take place?

Classes will be held on Fridays at the following times: 

Greenwich Mean Time, 4 - 5:30 PM
Eastern (US), 11 AM - 12:30 PM
Central (US), 10 - 11:30 AM
Mountain (US), 9 - 10:30 AM
Pacific (US), 8 - 9:30 AM 

Who should apply?

We welcome applications from students and working professionals, UT affiliates and non-UT affiliates. Students' skills should range from intermediate-high through superior levels on the ACTFL scale (equivalent of ILR1+ through ILR3), at the beginning of the program. Informal OPI tests will be conducted at the beginning and end of the program. Heritage learners whose language skill levels are appropriate for this program are encouraged to apply. However, the program is not open to native speakers who were educated in Persian, or who are fluent or near-fluent native speakers.

What sort of credit do I get for this course?

Students will receive three hours of upper-division undergraduate credit through UT Extension.

What are the technology requirements?

Personal Computer (Windows or Macintosh) with:

• Sound card
• Good quality headphones with microphone capability
• Webcam (the better the quality, the clearer your video stream will be)
• Internet connection (Broadband/Ethernet; Wi Fi is usually too slow)

What will it cost?

The tuition for this course is $1,200.  A limited number of tuition reduction offers are also available, which will reduce the tuition cost to $600.  Priority for these tuition reduction offers will be given to full-time graduate and undergraduate students, who do not otherwise have access to funding support for this course. Click here for a link to the tuition reduction application.

How do I apply?

The online application is available by clicking here. Applications are due by September 10, 2012.

Submit a PDF (must be a PDF) copy of your transcript to:

Maggie Bell, mbell@austin.utexas.edu

UT students may submit an academic summary from the Office of the Registrar to document UT coursework, but should also submit transcripts from any other colleges or universities attended.

Notable dates

Applications due by September 10, 2012
OPI testing will take place September 10-17, 2012
Notifications of acceptance will happen by September 17, 2012
Payment due by September 28, 2012
UPDATE: Orientation will be September 28, 2012 at 10 AM Central Time
Class starts on October 5, 2012

Refund schedule

Official withdrawal prior to the first class day = 100% refunded
Official withdrawal prior to October 12th = 75% refunded
Official withdrawal prior to October 19th = 50% refunded
Official withdrawal after October 19th = No refund

For questions, please contact:
Denise Beachum, denise.beachum@austin.utexas.edu