Customer Reviews

Learning Persian (Farsi): Book One (Persian Edition)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm very interested in learning Persian, and (after reading the reviews) decided to try this book since it supposedly began at an introductory level and came with an audio cd to help pronunciation.

This book's authors must either assume 1) you already have some working knowledge of Persian despite it being labeled as introductory level 2) that you're working with an instructor who will fill in the gaping holes, OR 3) this is Iran's way of getting back at George W. Bush, causing the heads of American students to explode in frustration across the land.

The book begins by teaching you basic phrases/verb conjugation, which would be awesome....except that it's 100% in Persian script, with no help in pronouncing it, much less understanding the words, or even what letters are being used. When they said they begin by using the Persian alphabet from the first lesson, I assumed that they'd actually teach you the alphabet you were going to be using (crazy, I know).

All of the instructions are 100% Persian script, so I have no idea what they actually want me to do. The CD is no help, I might as well listen to some Judas Priest records played backwards. I think my favorite part is how the table of contents tells you such-and-such is on page 234, but when you get into the actual book all the page numbers are in Persian script so you can't even tell what page you're on! If you can actually make sense of this course, chances are you don't need a basic course in Persian in the first place.

I'm not giving up trying to learn Farsi, but I am giving up on this course.

What a refreshing difference from some existing Persian language textbooks. Persian script is used from day one, rather than requiring students to master phonetic symbols that are about as hard to learn as the Persian script. Instead of throwing at the student new words never again used, each lesson builds well on the vocabulary employed in previous lessons. The same approach extends to the grammatical points; any grammar introduced in one lesson is then systematically applied in the next lessons. And the book has a reasonable price.

I LOVE this book. First of all, there are some reviews that are not fair to this book. This book is NOT not like "Persian for Dummies" to be used without an instructor. This book is designed for the University Students and it definitely needs to be taught BY AN INSTRUCTOR. Some people thought this is a self learning/teaching book, which is not. When used properly with an instructor, this book is PERFECT. I highly recommend those interested in learning PErsian take classes at Universities and use this book to learn Farsi the CORRECT WAY. Good luck! Khodahafez, -Tabasom Noorbakhsh

Learning Persian is a perfect book for every body who starts learning Farsi. The direct method which has been uded in this book is really useful for learning the language. The authors have used the new word of every lesson in the next lessons. This method helps the student to practice every new word several times.
I wish the next books in intermediat and advance levels will be published very soon. I am sure every body who reads this volume will be waiting for the next volumes.

I purchased this book thinking it was for absolute beginners like myself. It wasn't--at least not with the instructions all being in Farsi! After removing the clear plastic wrap off of the handsome, brand new book (a great sensation), I looked at the book itself for close to two straight hours, toward the end thinking about hiring a cryptologist to help me figure out the Farsi. I ended up taking two headache pills just to uwind my eyes. Somewhat frustrated, I contacted Ibex Publishers by e-mail telling them I couldn't make heads or tales of the book, my being a total beginner. I was shortly informed that the book was meant to be used with a classroom instructor. Ibex was kind enough to send me a complimentary copy of another book entitled, "How to Speak, Read, & Write Persian," by Hooshang & Farideh Amuzegar (Ibex, 2003), indicating that this book (with step-by-step instructions in English) would perhaps do a better job at meeting me at my level. This book, a 285-pager, was certainly the magic key I had been looking for! Don't get me wrong, it's no light reading and requires much practice and application, but it does get you started, which is what I wanted from the book I initially ordered. Ibex suggested that I return the initial book I purchased (the one all in Farsi), but if the excellence of the second book is any indication, I believe the initial book will prove its use when I get more proficient with Farsi. My suggestion to those who are into teaching themselves Farsi is to get a book like "How to Speak, Read, & Write Persian" and to supplement its heavily structured approach with a Pimsleur's conversational Farsi audio program which will get you going with the conversational side of learning a language. My strategy in learning anything has been to get plenty of materials to cross-reference information with. That's why I get more than one book or program on a subject I'm seriously interested in learning, although it might look redundant or even wasteful to the bystander. It's a bit more money initially, sure, but what an investment in yourself! Am I being a bit hasty by giving "Learning Persian (Farsi) Book One" five stars before I've begun to even understand it? Perhaps, but looking at its intelligent layout of the materials and overall presentation, I have a good sense that this is a winner which I'll learn to appreciate one day soon!!!

As an American of Iranian heritage, I was pleasantly surprised to read the recent "Learning Persian" book. The book offers a more modern and unique approach for learning a language that mainstream American find somewhat challenging. I highly recommend this book to teachers of Persian language and those who are interested in learning Persian on their own. The accompanied CD perfectly complements the book and contains excellent material on pronunciation, grammar, and conversational Farsi.

Overall, I give this book five stars as in my view it has covered all areas excellently. I congratulate the authors for this important contribution towards teaching/learning of Persian.

If you know how to read Persian, this book is OK. I say "OK" because it falls short of pronunciation anomalies such as stress. In Persian, there are changes in stress because for certain grammatical constructions. Well, to be fair, many of the texts out there for Persian have the same shortcoming. Otherwise, the book is good. I would recommend the purchase of a work alongside this one that speaks more to phonology. Stress can fall on different syllables in Persian for grammatical reasons much like Turkish. I think the two languages are sometimes oversimplified in this respect.

Like many other reviews have mentioned, this book is best used with the guidance of an instructor if you have no prior knowledge of Persian. Having used this book in that capacity 3 years ago, I can confidently say that it served as a great foundation for all my future instruction in the language. It imparts cultural knowledge along with language instruction and is good at slowly working the colloquial language into the lessons. If you have a tutor, the ability to read Persian or are looking for a book for leading a beginner Persian class, I would definitely recommend this.

This book is simply wonderful. In my opinion, there is a method of learning unique to every language, that makes learning that language a feasible, fun task. That method for a language like Farsi, is to immerse oneself in the actual language. This book helps to do just that.

The book is NOT intended for use by someone trying to learn the language on their own. It's best used as a building block, aiding the student to learn the language in a classroom environment, with an instructor. There are other books in the market that advertise "self-teaching" of this language. If self-learning's your thing, then that's great, but I believe this is the best way to learn a language like Farsi.

One thing I don't like about language books it when they teach you things (like vocabulary and grammar) that you will never use. This book teaches students important, usable vocabulary. One thing I loved is that vocabulary and grammar used in lesson 1 is integrated in lesson 2. What's used in lesson 2 is integrated in lesson 3, and so on, providing a great method of thoroughly learning this language.

I highly recommend this book.

Only get this book if you can already read and understand Farsi. This book has very little English and it would be nearly impossible for someone who cannot read or understand Farsi to learn anything from this book. Even the audio CD is not helpful.

It is deceptive to call this "book one" as it is most certainly at an intermediate or advanced level. Therefore I am giving it only 1 star.

Do not get this book if you do not already know some Farsi.