Summary

Persian Language Online is a website that makes online Persian lessons available, free of charge, to anyone who is interested in learning the language at a basic through intermediate level. The lessons teach vocabulary and grammar for the Iranian Farsi standard of the language. (You can get information about the Afghan (Dari) and Tajiki Persian standards on Persian Language Online’s blog.) The videos that start each lesson add a little color, but include no text or explanations. More comprehensive video lessons can be found on the Persian Learning channel, Reza Nazari’s Persian Lessons channel, the Learn Persian Online channel, and PersianPod101’s channel. Persian Language Online might work best as a supplement to other programs. While the lessons are easy to navigate, some of the design could be improved to facilitate learning. For example, more bilingual content might help beginner-level learners. The resource’s strengths include its downloadable sound clips from real speakers, its transcripts and translations, its cultural notes, and its glossaries. The online exercises provide some vocab and grammar practice, although you will probably need other resources such as Persian textbooks to get a more well-rounded foundation in Persian grammar. Overall, I found that Persian Language Online is a resource worth considering, even though it appears to have some shortcomings. A more gamified, interactive approach from the same developers is the Gorbeh series for iOS or Android, which was designed for children.