Launch of Online Elementary and Intermediate Persian Language and Literature Courses at the Iran Culture House in Mumbai with the Support of Saadi Foundation

In line with the Islamic Republic of Iran's commitment to promoting cultural diplomacy, strengthening the position of the Persian language in the Indian subcontinent, and responding to the growing interest among Indian learners, the Iran Culture House in Mumbai has launched online Elementary and Intermediate Persian Language and Literature courses with the generous support of the Saadi Foundation.

 The Iran Culture House in Mumbai, the first cultural center of the Islamic Republic of Iran established outside the country, is among the oldest official institutions dedicated to teaching and promoting the Persian language worldwide. Founded in 1956, it has played a significant role for nearly seventy years in introducing the Persian language, literature, art, culture, and civilization throughout western and southern India, while serving as one of Iran's most important academic and cultural centers in the Indian subcontinent. Over the decades, the Iran Culture House has organized Persian-language courses, academic conferences, scholarly seminars, cultural exhibitions, commemorative programs dedicated to renowned Iranian poets and scholars, and collaborative initiatives with leading Indian universities.

In response to the increasing interest among students, researchers, university professors, translators, tour guides, and admirers of Iranian culture, the Iran Culture House in Mumbai, in collaboration with the Saadi Foundation, has introduced two online Persian language courses at the Elementary and Intermediate levels. The courses commenced in mid-June, and each consists of 40 instructional sessions, with classes held twice a week for ninety minutes each. A comprehensive final examination will be conducted at the end of each course, and successful participants will receive a certificate of completion.

The academic coordination and course administration are supervised by Mohammad Ali Aboutalebi. The courses employ the Saadi Foundation's internationally recognized teaching materials, including Gam-e Avval (First Step) for the Elementary level and Mina 1 for the Intermediate level. These textbooks have been developed according to modern methodologies for teaching Persian to non-native speakers and are designed to develop the four essential language skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—in an integrated manner.

A total of 24 learners have enrolled in the two courses. To encourage continuous interaction and effective communication, a dedicated WhatsApp group has been established for each class, enabling participants to ask academic questions, submit assignments, and access supplementary audio, video, and educational resources throughout the course. This blended approach extends learning beyond the virtual classroom and facilitates ongoing interaction between instructors and students.

In the Elementary course, participants learn the Persian alphabet, consonants and vowels, correct reading and writing, essential vocabulary, basic grammatical structures, sentence formation, and everyday conversational skills. By the end of the course, learners are expected to read simple Persian texts, write short passages, and communicate effectively in basic everyday situations.

The Intermediate course focuses on expanding learners' language proficiency through advanced grammatical structures, verb tenses, writing skills, reading literary and journalistic texts, comprehension, composition, and more fluent conversation. Upon completion, participants are expected to use Persian confidently in academic, cultural, and professional contexts.

One of the distinctive features of these courses is their integrated approach to language instruction and cultural education. Alongside language lessons, each session includes presentations introducing various aspects of Iran's history, civilization, customs and traditions, art, music, architecture, handicrafts, distinguished literary and scientific figures, UNESCO World Heritage sites, tourism attractions, and the rich cultural heritage of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Students are also provided with educational films, documentaries, and multimedia resources showcasing Iran's historic cities, world heritage monuments, traditional ceremonies, and diverse cultural landscape, enabling them to develop both linguistic proficiency and a deeper appreciation of Iranian culture.

The organization of these courses represents an important step toward expanding Persian language education in India, strengthening academic and cultural cooperation between Iran and India, and cultivating a new generation of Persian learners, translators, researchers, and Iranologists. The continuation of such educational initiatives will undoubtedly contribute to preserving the shared heritage of these two great civilizations while fostering broader academic, cultural, tourism, and research collaboration between the two countries.