Simón Bolívar
Improving Vocabulary for Persian (Farsi)

First off, thank you all for giving me such detailed and wonderful responses for my last discussions! I enjoy reading all of them and I take the advice all of you give. 

 

What ways do you think someone learning Persian (Farsi) can improve their vocabulary? I don't have many native speakers that live around me. Will movies, radio, music help improve vocabulary? Also, should I have subtitles in my native language (English) while listening to these resources?

 

Just in advance, thank you very much for your responses and I look forward to reading them! 

Mar 24, 2013 5:25 PM
Comments · 4

Whenever you are watching a movie in your target language, always use subtitles. I understand that Persian word-order is differnt from English, but the point is once you begin to learn words, and notice them in movies, the subtitles will help understand how the word is being used in regular conversation. Although what Sohrab says is true, its not always the case.

 

In terms of vocabulary, I would say to buy a good English-Persian dictionary with transliterations (words written phonetically in Latin script),

 

each time you learn a new word (and only learn words that are relevant to YOU such as words describing your hobbies, interests, etc) write it down on a piece of paper and keep it by your desk or in your pocket and go over it whenever time allows.

 

Also, I'm assuming you would like to learn to speak? If so, don't focus too much on vocabulary at first as your goal is to get a gist and flow of the language, the vocabulary will come naturally for the most part. If you haven't already, get yourself a Lonely Planet phrasebook for Persian, and start there.

 

 

April 7, 2013

If you can read persian, just start a book. Not a Literary or poem book of course, a simple book with simple and common words, phrases and expressions ... you can choose a book that you read in english before !

 

If you can not read persian, movies and persian broadcasting networks can be useful. don't use english subtitles becouse most of them don't quote same sentences ;) they are just trying to make you understand the movie and aren't good for learning the language. Broadcasting Channels are so much better than movies even. News like "BBC Persian" , Entertainment like "Manoto Tv", Documentary like "National Geography Farsi",Movies like "Gem TV" and etc ...

 

And Remember, Persian is a rich language in vocabulary (I somehow remember it ranked as #5 richest language in vocab), so don't be afraid if you don't know a word's meaning ... I'm a native speaker and i don't know the meaning of a lot of words either   ;)

April 6, 2013

In my idea when learning Persian dont get help from your English as much as possible.

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Musics will not come to much use if your at basic to intermediate level.

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Stay away from old persian contexts or poems until you are near fluent. They are tricky to grasp.

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Go with movies and persian channels.There are many out there.

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Books,short stories etc also are good to expand your vocab.

March 25, 2013

I think watching movies is more practical and better but listening to persian musics may be difficult 

March 24, 2013