So, you see the writing on the wall and want to get your Persian language skills together in preparation for all the future “interfacing” the US will be doing with Iran.  Or, maybe you’re gonna need those extra points after you pass the Oral Assessment on your way to becoming a Foreign Service Officer.  Here’s how to do it – well, if you’re me anyway.  This plan won’t work for everyone…or maybe even most

Step 1: Attend Arizona State University’s Critical Languages Institute. It’s tuition-free (no, really), and the fees aren’t even that much for the value of what you get.  It’s equivalent to a year of study in seven weeks.  Heavy on the Tajik vocabulary, but is a great foundation for self-study later on.

Step 2: Arrange to get Rosetta Stone Persian free through your employer.  Ok, this is definitely a point that is unique to me, but maybe you can convince your employer that it would be a relatively inexpensive professional development opportunity.

Step 3: Borrow Pimsleur’s Persian audio CDs from your local library.  Sure, you could buy it, but I bet your library already has it.  Love the Pimsleur system for the bite-size pieces of conversation phrases, but, like Rosetta Stone, there isn’t a whole lot of explanation.  So, you’ll want to continue to Step 4 to w

Step 4: Download the Chai and Conversation podcasts.  Excellent beginning Persian lessons, and in the new batch are focused on grammar.

Step 5: Listen to podcasts while riding subway one hour to and from work.  Look like a crazy person as you mouth out words and, occasionally, talk out loud.  If you hear Persian being spoke on the trains, and want to practice, wait for a lull in conversation and awkwardly ask, in Persian, “Do you speak Persian?”  Then, not having a follow up question prepared, say, “I want a Persian teacher.  Do you know Persian teacher?”  Have them give you a look that says, “Yea, you DO need a Persian teacher!”  If it’s a child on the subway, then the conversation is easier, but don’t get offended when they tell you your Persian is pretty bad.  The kids have been much more honest, so far.

Step 6: Enroll in an NYU continuing education course.  Haven’t don’t this yet, but the course starts at the end of Feb.  Looking forward to getting some more conversation practice, so I can spare the folks on the train.