Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Very Unpleasant , Disappointing, and Inadequate for the Beginner, May 10, 2008
If you're not enrolled in Farsi class or do not have a teacher and student body with which to practice, do not buy this book. I purchased this book when I began Farsi 1 and had no prior knowledge in Iranian languages. If I had not had a teacher to explain to me the particulars of the Perso-Arabic script (the "alphabet" used for Farsi) and how to write it, I believe the journey would have been arduous and long. Thankfully I did, learning the script in less than a month. But the downfalls of this book only begin there. I'm going to list several, but for an easy sum-up, if you're interested in learning Farsi, I recommend:
1. John Mace's Modern Persian by Teach Yourself Books. Mine's from 1967 and I truly like it. Even better, I ordered it from England off Ebay for about 12 dollars in total, shipped to USA! I can't speak for newer editions as I've not studied with them. This book has no significant problems and actually is enjoyable. It teaches you everything you need to know about writing the standard form of the Arabic script. Literary/formal Farsi is covered, not colloquial, delivering a solid foundation in grammar, vocabulary and syntax structure. I also have the new Teach Yourself Modern Persian with audio and the book by Narguess Farzad. I would say it's recommendable, although I've not used it much to date.
2. Contemporary Spoken Persian by Marashi. I've finished nearly the whole first book and audio and have learned a tremendous amount. This set is an excellent start into the spoken Farsi language and will prepare you to use "How to Speak...Persian". Contemporary Spoken Persian is, however, in need of a complete overhaul of revision. The audio is clear, but unprofessional with huge errors such as some parts of the audio completely missing or being repeated erroneously. The text has errors as well, though is more competent than the audio. Also, the package is extremely expensive--pretty much unaffordable for most. But I can say it's prepared me very well.
3. In addition, search for these websites: easypersian and farsi123 . The first site can teach you Farsi without any other source and the latter is a reference dictionary and more.
4. "Colloquial Persian - Paperback and CD Pack (Colloquial Series (Multimedia)) (Audio CD)".
5. Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone do a fine job in pronunciation and Pimsleur's drill-like conversations are effective (but limited in vocabulary); borrow both if possible. However, I would not recommend Rosetta Stone. It teaches literary Farsi (RS defeats its own purpose! it's not teaching you to naturally [& colloquially] SPEAK the language as one would with another Iranian), and the vocabulary isn't always so practical and sometimes is incorrect.
6. A free source: Persian for Beginners by Iraj Bashiri. [...] Available is the text and audio for "the writing system" and also the text and audio for the "tape manual" or the main book. Unfortunately, it looks as though the audio for units 14-20 are missing for the PC version (while Mac has it). Glancing through the book and the audio, I think it's a valuable source.
Farsi is a wonderful and beautiful language, and at times, certain aspects of it (like verb conjugation/tenses) are "simple" to learn!!! On the other hand, "How to Speak...Persian" gives the language, culture, and new student very little justice.
A Few Criticisms:
1) Arabic script:
The "Diacritical Signs" (the little signs used in Arabic for purposes of pronunciation, etc) were explained well, and the Perso-Arabic script is written in a standard, easily read type-set. A self-studied student can learn to READ Farsi without much fuss in this section. However, when it actually comes to writing the typed-script (the standard form of the alphabet), there are no depictions on "how" to write it--that is, what part of the letter I form first, second, third, etc, and in which directions I move my pen. This is essential if a person ever cares to master written Farsi in the standard type-set form. Moreover, "handwritten" Farsi (called "dast khatt" meaning "handwriting" or "shekaste" for "broken" since the writing does look "broken" compared to the printed script) varies significantly from the typed Perso-Arabic script, just as printed English differs greatly from cursive. In order to write the "dast khatt/shekaste" form of Farsi, a student needs illustrations on how each letter is written and connects to each other. Instead, the author provides about 29 handwritten words (which look like "scratch" writing to any foreigner) without any explanations. Most of the words are indecipherable if the student isn't well-studied, hasn't encountered dast khatt/shekaste before or hasn't a Persian teacher. Even a small explanation of which letter depicts "d" from "r" would have been appreciated; the same can be said for pointing out the oddly modified "he do cheshm" letter. The handwritten portion in this book is a waste of paper, very impractical, confusing, and annoying.
2) No true foundation in grammar:
Without basic understanding of grammar and syntax, word lists and phrases, to me, are meaningless (unless you have a Persian friend to make them come to life). The author's choice in presenting the material is ineffective, and consequently wastes time again. This book's method utilizes word lists, dull dialogue, and very brief, INCOMPLETE grammar explanations to "prepare" the student for the written exercises. In my experience while working on any chapter, I had to continually flip back and forth from chapter to chapter to achieve any real use of this book.
Personally, all chapters up to chapter eight aren't so useful for actually speaking with Persians as a beginner, except for the few I'll present now. If a person must buy this book, then I recommend that s/he first familiarize her/himself with the Arabic script on pages 11 and 12; learn how to read and write them, individually and connected together. Then find an article in a book or magazine and write out the English (or whatever is your native tongue) words with the Perso-Arabic script. This really helps you to sound out the letters and know them intimately. Once ready, turn to page 23 and learn the "personal pronouns" such as "man = I", "mA = us", "shomA = you", etc. Turn to page 24 and learn the possessive adjectives and learn how they work, "-am = my", "-shAn = their", etc. Then turn to Lesson 3 (dars-e se) and on page 29 (safhe bist-o-noh) learn the verb "To be = Budan (boodan)" and pay close attention to the suffixes (at the end of the verb). "hast(am) = I am", "hast(i) = you are", nabud (no suffix) = he/she wasn't", "bud(and) = they were", etc. These suffixes will tell you whether the verb is referring to 1st person, 2nd person, and third person (singular and plural). Do any of the chapter exercises and learn the vocabulary and greetings to help you along. Then just skip to chapter 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. Chapters 8, 9, and 10 discuss present, past, and future verb tenses; 11 compound verbs, the use of the ezafe "ye," and interrogatives; and 12 the use definite suffix rA, colloquial contraction/elision, and prepositions. Once comfortable, skip back and all the rest will make more sense. Otherwise, you'll just cram word lists and dialogue in your head and still not know how to speak to Persians. I don't know if the author intended an "assimilation" into Farsi using the first chapters' dialogues, but it clearly doesn't work.
3) Errors in answer guide:
The answers to the exercises are not always correct, and there are even in-text errors. Even the back of my book (printed in 2003) has a typo: instead of "2,600 word dictionary" it says 2,6000. Two and Six thousand? Twenty-six thousand?
4) Average audio recordings:
Dry B grade recordings on cassette, but very useful for pronunciation aid. If you don't have any other exposure to Farsi-speakers, then the audio cassette is worth the investment.
5) colloquial and literary vocabulary:
Spoken-Farsi is rather different from its literary form. The long vowel-A (Alef) is often colloquially pronounced as "oo" (as in "soup") and also the long-vowel "o" (as in the first 'o' in "motor"). "IrAni" becomes "Irooni" and the same for khAne, which is "khoone". The Farsi word for "mother is "mAdar" and becomes "modar". Similar changes in vowels are made throughout the language in verbs, nouns, adjectives, etc. The book doesn't explain this until chapter 12. Also, maybe more importantly, verbs are almost always contracted to a simpler form in the present tenses. Although this is touched upon at times in chapters prior to 12, the author would have been wiser to add the colloquial version of each verb in the word lists in chapter 8 and thereafter, not waiting until 12 for discussion.
Overall, "How to Speak...Persian" by Hooshang and Farideh Amuzegar lacks an effective structure for introducing Persian to the new student; I felt very uncomfortable using this book. Only after being exposed to many other sources (listed at the top of this review) do I now feel comfortable to use it for supplementary material. I can see how a fledgling student could easily be discouraged and discontinue his/her Persian studies if this book were his/her sole source of Persian language and culture. The book is much more useful as a 3rd or 4th source for referencing verbs/vocabulary and a good exposure to colloquial Farsi.
If you are needing to learn colloquial Farsi, then this book may prove useful for you with the right approach. Also, if you are already comfortable with Iranian pronunciation, then the cassettes might be unnecessary for purchase. This all depends on how you learn, your familiarity with Farsi, your learning needs, and most of all, your drive to learn to speak, read, and write Farsi.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty good, I'm satisfied =), March 11, 2009
The first review was, to be honest, too harsh.
I'd personally give this book anywhere from 4 to 4.5 stars and here's what I have to say about the book.
The author tries his best in teaching both spoken and written Persian as used in Iran today. I felt certain words and phrases could've been more "colloquial" especially in terms of pronunciation but all in all it's a great book. Vocabulary for the most part is highly useful on a variety of topics (ranging from basic phrases to a mini phone conversation at the end of the book) for a rather short 280 some page paperback book.
I felt that grammar explanations weren't as complete, rich or diverse as I had hoped for but realize that it's one book multitasking as the title suggests. Besides, this isn't a Persian grammar book. I like how the author explains some colloquial variations not just in conversations but in some grammar sections throughout the book.
Reading practices and exercises are all literary, not colloquial which makes sense. Conversations are semi-colloquial/semi-literary, still appropriate for teaching the language to foreigners and sufficiently suitable for applying them to everyday speech. Having said that, once you're in Iran or start interacting with native speakers of this variety of Persian, you'll fill in the gaps before you know it through engaging in conversations, hearing and observing people speak, making tons of mistakes, watching TV, etc.
I wish this book had been more complete.
I wish the book was twice its size because the author did a great job and the intention was good but the book is too short to teach ALL three skills. If I were the author, I'd definitely make the book up to twize as longer to thoroughly explain and teach both strictly written and spoken language.
** Here's what I do NOT like about the book **
I love the three cassette tapes. They obviously weren't done professionally in a recording studio with voice over artists but rather you'll hear the author speak in Persian and explain things in English so listening to the tapes is like being in a classroom with a professor.
But cassette tapes?
Seriously?
I understand the book was published in 2003 but the author sorely needs to update them into either audio CDs or MP3 CDs.
I mean c'mon now...
Besides this book, if you'd like more help specifically on the "spoken" language, I recommend Colloquial Persian by Routledge. By the way, Farsi (Persian) Phrasebook by Lonely Planet is awesome for its price! Modern Persian Vols. 1 & 2 by the Yale University Press and Contemporary Spoken Persian Books 1 & 2 are excellent even though they're both quite expensive. I've been told that Farsi by Living Language was well done but I haven't seen it myself. I guess it doesn't hurt to try Pimsleur's Farsi, if you have the bucks.
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