Undergraduate Module Descriptor

ARA2141: Intermediate Persian

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

This course, continuing on from Elementary Persian, is based on Safar Moghaddam and Yadollah Samareh’s Persian Language Teaching: Elementary Course, Book II, supplemented by audio-visual materials, extracts from Phillot's Higher Persian Grammar and Anne Lambton's Persian Grammar. It is expected that you will learn the proper pronunciation of the vocabulary featured in the textbook by recourse to the teacher during class. Translation and writing exercises are regularly given as homework, which is later corrected and analysed by the whole class. In class dictation is given with feedback. Persian poetry and prose readings are also regularly discussed and analysed in class. You will read and learn all texts given by the teacher over the course of the semester, with some of these texts appearing in the exams. The emphasis of this class will be on both classical and colloquial Persian, aiming at acquisition of knowledge of the fundamental structure of Persian grammar and language, ability to read intermediate texts in Persian; capacity to carry on conversations in Persian; understanding of the importance of the Persian language and civilization in the broader context of Islamic civilization and culture.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. demonstrate mastery of grasp of intermediate Persian grammar, read intermediate texts in Persian, and engage in intermediate level conversation in Persian; 2. acquire a basic understanding of the importance of Persian language and civilisation in the broader context of Islamic civilisation and culture.
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. identify, describe and manipulate a range of linguistic forms and structures in reading, writing, and conversation, and to assimilate basic information about another culture; 4. ability to discern different linguistic dialects based on listening to world news, Persian TV programmes as well as grasp varieties of different regional accents.
Personal and Key Skills	5. develop time management skills and conduct independent study, as well as to work in groups in conversation and text-based work; 6. demonstrate confidence in the use of a foreign language.

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Assignments, essay writing, graded dictation assignments and mid-term quiz	Roughly 15-30 minutes of class time per class and 90-120 minutes of homework time	1-6	Verbal and/or written feedback

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
30	50	20

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Weekly assignments over 10 weeks	15	One hour per week in lectures and 2-3 hours of homework time	1 and 2	Written feedback
Mid-term Quiz	15	90 minutes; held around week 7	1-5	Written feedback
Oral examination (in final week of term)	20	15 minutes	1-5	Written and verbal
Written examination (in final week of term)	50	2 hours	1 and 2	Written feedback
	0
	0

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Weekly assignments	Written exam test (90 minutes; 15%)	1 and 2	January exam week
Mid-term Quiz	Quiz (90 minutes; 15%)	1-5	Later in the January term
Oral examination (in final week of term)	Oral examination (15 minutes) (20%)	1-5	January exam week
Written examination (in final week of term)	Written examination (2 hours) (50%)	1 and 2	January exam week