The Academy of Persian Language and Persianate Culture
Bridging Arabic & Persian: Learn Faster, Remember Better
Peyman Eshaghi
Course Description
This 12-week course is designed for Arabic speaking learners who already possess a solid knowledge of Fusha Arabic and wish to use that foundation to acquire Persian efficiently and insightfully. Focusing on the deep historical, linguistic, and cultural connections between Arabic and Persian, the course highlights shared vocabulary, parallel concepts, borrowed grammatical structures, and the common Arabic–Persian script, while also clarifying key differences to prevent interference. Particular attention is given to Arabic loanwords in Persian, semantic shifts, pronunciation patterns, and stylistic usage in both classical and modern contexts. The course is especially beneficial for Arab students, scholars of Islamic studies, literature, and history, as well as anyone with strong Arabic proficiency who seeks a structured and comparative pathway into Persian.
Content of the course
Arabic and Persian: Historical and Linguistic Encounters
The Persian Alphabet through Arabic Eyes: Script, Sounds, and Additions
Shared Vocabulary I: Core Nouns and Everyday Expressions
Shared Vocabulary II: Abstract Concepts, Religion, and Philosophy
False Friends: Similar Forms, Different Meanings
Arabic Loanwords in Persian: Patterns of Adaptation
Pronunciation and Phonology: What Changes from Arabic to Persian
Grammar in Contrast: What Arabic Helps with—and What It Doesn’t
Persian Verbs for Arabic Speakers: Structure and Usage
Stylistic Levels: Arabic in Formal Persian vs. Colloquial Persian
Reading Persian Texts with Arabic Background: Strategies and Practice
From Arabic Knowledge to Persian Fluency: Integration and Next Steps
Course Details
Schedule: Friday, 26 June - 11 September, 2026
Time: 10:30-11:30 AM (US Pacific), 1:30–2:30 (US Eastern), 7:30–8:30 PM (Central European)
Format: 12 online sessions
Tuition: $300 (payable in installments)
Registered participants will receive full access to recorded session videos and all course materials.