On Thursday, the 23rd of Shahrivar, 1402, corresponding to the 14th of September 2023, Mr. Abdolmajid Abolghasemi, the Cultural Counselor of the Islamic Republic, attended the office of Mrs. Dr. "Kale Ko", the head of the Department of Linguistics of "UP" University (Mother University) and After customary introductions, while introducing Dr. Samadi, a Persian language teacher and his work history as a teacher with a history of teaching Persian language to non-Persian speakers, he discussed and exchanged opinions with the head of the department.

 

 

 

Mr. Abolghasemi, while expressing his satisfaction with the opportunity presented in this meeting and congratulating the beginning of the new academic year, said that it has been almost twenty years since the beginning of Persian language classes in your university as one of the five leading universities in the Philippines that is ranked in Asia and It is also international and I consider it necessary to express my thanks and appreciation for the cooperation of the university officials, especially the Linguistics Department. The Cultural Counselor acknowledged that we do not look at teaching Persian as only one of the courses offered in the academic field, and the extent of our vision is to introduce the language, culture and art of Iran to Filipino students, and I hope that these collaborations will eventually lead to the establishment of a Farsi language chair will become a prominent academic and university in this institution. The Cultural Counselor expressed and emphasized the readiness of the Cultural Section to participate in various cultural activities, exhibitions and scientific meetings in the field of exchange of views with young Filipino students and faculty members and university officials especially active participation in interfaith dialogues between Abrahamic religions, it is still going on and therefore we would like to expand such activities at the academic and student level as well.

 

In response, Mrs. Dr. "Galeh Ko" expressed her pleasure to meet the Cultural Counselor and said that she has been involved in teaching Persian language from the past until now and we are ready to cooperate and invite you to participate in cultural and artistic meetings with the cooperation of a number of Southeast Asian countries, which will be held in the Department of Linguistics on the 9th of next month, and here I officially invite you to actively participate in the upcoming event.

 

While accepting his invitation, Mr. Abolghasemi acknowledged that we are ready to show selected Iranian films with English subtitles along with cultural and artistic exhibitions for you and your dear students, and I suggest a list of Filipino students who have passed the introductory Persian language course in the past, along with their email address and phone numbers, should be provided to us in order to invite them in various national and cultural programs such as celebrating Yalda Night as the longest night of the year and Nowruz Eid, as well as our preparation for holding to conduct free Persian language relearning classes to those mentioned in Cultural Section, and with God's help, we hope to see the opening of more than one Persian language classroom in this university. The head of the Linguistics Department welcomed the presented suggestions and agreed that various activities of the Linguistics Department would be communicated to the Cultural Section through the Persian language instructor. At the end of the meeting, gifts were exchanged as a token of remembrance between the two parties.

 

 

 

It is necessary to explain, the first semester of the Persian language class from September 12 of this month to January 6 in the form of three optional lessons from 14:30 to 16:00 in the afternoon on Tuesdays in virtual form and in person on Thursdays will take place.

 

After meeting and talking with the head of Linguistics Department of "UP" University, Mr. Abolghasemi attended the classroom together with the Persian language teacher and met with the Persian language students. At the beginning, he said to the students who are the future builders of their country, I appreciate that you, dear students, have chosen Persian among other foreign languages. The Cultural Counselor acknowledged that by choosing the Persian language, you have made a step in the history and civilization of Iran, which has a background of nearly seven thousand years of civilization, culture and history, and this language contains the culture and intellectual scope of prominent thinkers and scientists of various sciences from these includes astronomy, mathematics, poetry and literature.

 

 

 

 

Mr. Abolghasemi added, we hope to see your progress and mastery in learning Persian language and teaching it to interested Filipinos in the future. Cultural Counselor emphasized, if you are one of the distinguished students, it is possible to grant scholarships to study in universities and higher education centers of the Islamic Republic. At the end, the Cultural Counselor expressed his wishes for success to the students of this Persian language course.