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AATP Roundtable I: Poetry, Culture and Technology in the Persian Language Classroom

This roundtable is aimed at bringing up innovative approaches to incorporating cultural components in Persian language teaching. Some of the topics at stake will be: 1) using poetry in the beginner level as a teaching tool, 2) connecting poetry to prose to enhance comprehension and vocabulary buildup, 3) deploying cultural awareness to boost learners’ motivation, and 4) utilizing technological tools to enhance learners’ motivation and cultural competence. Each of the presentations on these topics will be followed by questions and answer as well as in invitation for discussions and more suggestions. Therefore, the audience will also be a part of this roundtable making it as engaging and as useful as possible for teachers of Persian.

Presentations

Using Poetry Memorization as a Teaching Tool
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The role of literature as a teaching tool in language classrooms has often been underestimated and many give little value to incorporating poetry memorization in their lesson plans. Some see the process as cumbersome and time consuming while others view poetry as a deviation from standard norms of language. In this presentation, I will share my experience of using poetry memorization successfully for Beginner Persian curriculum by discussing the following while seeking roundtable participants feedback on each topic:

Benefits of poetry memorization
Criteria for selecting appropriate poem
Step-by-step process of guiding student through memorization
Evaluation
Feedback

Material Design: The Challenge of Culture
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This presentation critically views culture presentation in Persian langauge materials. Cultural awareness influences attitudes underlying motivations in continuing learning of our non-heritage learners of Persian, addresses exoticism, orientalism and othering and operates as a ‘peace making’ tool in the international affairs context (Aruni and Sjraydi, 2001). Within the existing political situations of different sorts of actors, including nation-states, diasporic community and multinationals (Appadurai, 1996:33), language learning materials should be conscious and unbiased in presenting the culture under study. As an example, I introduce one lesson designed with regards to presentation of culture in multiple layers and perspectives and.

Converting Poetry to Simple Prose using Persian Synonyms
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This presentation discusses a pedagogical technique of substitution, whereby students convert classical or modern Persian poetry to simple prose using Persian synonyms. This technique enhances vocabulary, strengthens speaking and writing skills, and is especially beneficial at the intermediate level or above. Using this approach, students are asked to read a poem, convey its meaning in prose using Persian equivalents, summarize the poem’s highlights and present their own analysis. During the roundtable, we will also discuss the benefits of such a technique for advanced learners, heritage learners and in particular, how it can build awareness of language register.

Using Technology to Harness Motivation of Persian Language Learners
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In this presentation I will discuss the design, implementation, results, and findings of a research project conducted with novice-intermediate level Persian/Farsi learners as part of at San Diego State University. The overall purpose is two-fold: 1) to design and implement proficiency-based online curriculum integrating aspects of ‘gamification’ and ‘personalization,’ and 2) to study the impact, if any, on effective response to curriculum and actual time on task when the curriculum is ‘gamified/personalized’ and when it is not.
• Technology: What technological tools are being used effectively in your classrooms? Is there new technology you have begun to use?

Graded Readers and Language Teaching
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Graded readers or those kinds of texts which are customized to the different language levels have been one of the main tools in teaching different languages as a second or foreign language. These have been in the front list of the most well-known international publishers and are recommended by the language teachers to their students. Regarding Persian language, the tradition was initially applied to grading the Persian literary works for young native speakers. The topic would be discussed further to show the systematically and pedagogically graded readers are essential for teaching Persian to Heritage and non-heritage students.

Connecting todays’ memes and TV Shows to Persian Language and Poetry, Speaking the language of Z generation.
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In this talk, I discuss the ways we can help the new generation of students, heritage and none heritage to connect and understand the Persian Language and Culture. By using social media and TV shows, which are the sources and tools that these students are most familiar with we build a base commonality for learning vocabulary, understanding, and implementing the language. This talk is based on an experimental method I used in two of my classes. In this way, they can relate to the Language and the Poetry that at some points seems distant.