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Learn Persian in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The American Councils Eurasian Regional Language program provides advanced undergraduates intensive individualized instruction in the languages of Eurasia . All courses are conducted by expert faculty from leading local universities and educational institutions.

Participants live with local host families. Host families expose students to authentic, contemporary language in informal social settings and provide supportive environments for students to test their growing language skills. All families are screened, selected, and monitored by local American Councils' staff. They provide two meals per day during the week and three meals per day during the weekend; participants are guaranteed private rooms, telephone access, and separate keys to the home.

Academics

Participants receive approximately fifteen hours per week of classroom instruction, led by expert faculty from leading local universities and educational institutions such as Tajik State National University ( Dushanbe ). Courses are designed to strengthen participants oral, listening, reading and writing proficiency in the language of study. Courses in literature, history, politics, culture, and area studies are available for advanced students.

Students are enrolled in either small group classes or individual tutorials. If enrolled in small-group classes, they receive at least twenty hours per week of in-class instruction; if studying in tutorials, participants are provided approximately twelve contact hours per week, with the understanding that each tutorial hour will require at least three hours of preparation outside the classroom. All classes are conducted in the target language by full-time faculty members of the host institution who have extensive experience teaching foreign students.

Peer Tutoring

Participants are offered the chance to meet people their age for three or four hours per week. Peer tutors introduce participants to local young people, accompany participants on sightseeing tours, organize cultural activities (cinema, museum, etc.), and provide students with academic support. The peer tutors are expected to speak only the local language.

Program Dates

September 1 – December 20, 2008