Reporter Chris Kim:
Learning how to speak a new language can be one thing, but to live, eat, breathe, and sleep a new culture is an entirely new experience for many students. Cal State Fullerton is providing an Intensive Immersion Language Program in Persian where students will devote six weeks during the summer term with a small number of other students in a residential immersion program.
Cal State Fullerton is one of the schools involved in the California State University Strategic Language Initiative, which is designed to teach Persian, Arabic, Korean, and Chinese. One example of the events aimed at teaching the students about the Persian culture is a classical music lecture and concert that’s taking place on campus.
Ghazzal Dabiri, Director of Persian Studies:
Basically, it’s a six-week intensive course that, as you’ve just seen tonight, incorporates the cultural aspects. So, it’s not just about grammar, grammar, grammar, learning how to speak and read, but it’s also an introduction to various aspects of the culture as well.
Reporter Chris Kim:
Raising awareness about the Persian culture and breaking through the stereotypes are one of the main goals in educating the students about a culture that is commonly misjudged.
Kourosh Taghavi, Guest Musician:
You know, as a part of the higher education concept in anywhere in the world, it’s great to have an opportunity to learn about other cultures, regardless of how you’re learning this, whether it’s through music, or films in other languages. I think it’s a great bridge for all of us to know each other more and learn more about each other’s cultures, so I think it’s wonderful.
Reporter Chris Kim:
This event is just one of many that will give insight and experience that takes place in the Persian community. The students participating in the program at Cal State Fullerton will continue their studies throughout the summer as well as the academic school year, being immersed in everything Persian, without actually being thousands of miles away. For Cal State Fullerton, this is Chris Kim.