Curriculum & Textbooks

The Iranian School of San Diego has been in pursuit of finding the best methodology possible to teach the Persian Language to its heritage students.

Over the past 35 years, the staff and faculty have examined, developed, adopted, and implemented various methods, published textbooks, and exhausted available resources with notable success. Through it all, they have fully recognized that the needs of heritage students, with various proficiency skills, are far different from those of native and/or non-heritage students.

The establishment of the Education Committee in 2013 was the official beginning of the development of specialized curricula and textbooks that address the needs of this unique population of students. The committee is comprised of members of teachers, staff, and professional linguists and language specialists. They are familiar with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTEL) standards and guidelines. These unique curricula adopted a content-based approach that is in compliance with the ACTEL standards and guidelines. Each curriculum/textbook will provide students with ongoing and varied opportunities to develop their oral and written proficiencies across the three communicative modes: interpersonal (speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills), interpretive (listening and reading skills), and presentational (speaking and writing skills); and the five goal areas (communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities) as outlined in the ACTEL standards.

Persian Book 1 (P-1)

P1 is a novice-level Persian language textbook. The book covers all the alphabets in chunks (2-4 letters for each lesson). Each lesson includes the following three sections:
• Introduction of new letters
• Various writing practices
• Conversation about familiar topics

By the end of this book, students should be able to write simple words and sentences, talk about familiar topics such as family, pets, and home, and list items such as colors, fruits, food, and animals.

Persian Book 2 (P-2)

P2 is a novice high-level Persian Language textbook for heritage students. The themes are designed to provide students with the vocabulary and context to:

• Engage and communicate in real-life conversations on familiar topics
• Develop reading fluency
• Develop formal writing abilities

Students will learn how not only to write correctly but also how to write effectively and formally.

Persian Book 3 (P-3)

P3 is an intermediate-low-level Persian language textbook for heritage students. The themes are designed to provide students with the vocabulary and context for both familiar and abstract topics to:
• Engage and communicate in real-life conversations
• Further develop reading fluency
• Further develop formal writing abilities

Students at this level will learn how to create with language.

Persian Book 4 (P-4)

P4 is an intermediate-high-level Persian language textbook for heritage students. The themes are designed to provide students with the vocabulary, context, and language structure for both familiar and abstract topics to:
• Engage and communicate in real-life conversations
• Expand their reading fluency
• Expand their formal writing abilities

Students at this level will learn how to create with language by developing an advanced vocabulary of a more abstract and descriptive nature.

Persian Book 5 & 6 (P-5 & P-6)

P5 & P6 are advanced (low-mid) level Persian textbooks for heritage students. The books provide students with knowledge and activities to enhance their awareness of Iranian culture and cultural patterns. In addition, the themes are designed to provide students with the vocabulary, context, and language structure for both familiar and abstract topics to:

  • Speak Persian with accuracy and participate in most conversations on practical and social topics
  • Expand their comprehensibility and reading fluency
  • Expand their formal writing to paragraph level

Students n this level will learn how to use the language with ease and confidence.

Extra Curricular Activities

These classes are offered at the school which includes dance, music, and acting.