Dr. Leila

I have taken 57 classes with Leila in the last year and a half, and it has been an incredible experience and total joy. When I first met her, I had studied Persian on and off for many years, but my speaking was pretty rusty. I was also very interested in studying Persian poetry. Leila offered to combine two of her classes in one for me, so that the first part would be conversation and the second part would focus on reading works of poetry. Since then it has also expanded to working on translation of prose and poetry from English to Persian and Persian to English. Suffice it to say, I have grown a LOT in my Persian speaking, writing, and reading abilities since I first started the lessons. Leila is kind, patient, generous, flexible, and very professional. She also has a vast and thorough understanding of Persian literature and language pedagogy. I would recommend her in a heartbeat to anyone wanting to learn Persian or study Persian literature in any capacity. Thank you Leila!!!

Leila is truly an amazing teacher for so many reasons. She is a skilled teacher and always kind, patient, and attentive. She is genuinely interested in her students and works on their specific needs. For example, I am currently at a low advanced level and have been doing academic research in Persian. Leila has been unmatched in her helpfulness in working with me on expanding my vocabulary and talking about the issues I am considering. The fact that she actually has a PhD in the humanities makes her unmatched and a perfect find for me. It means that beyond teaching the language, she is able to differentiate between different sources and offer the context for the articles we are reading. I am able to talk to her as a colleague, as someone who understands difficult academic concepts, such as poststructuralism, and is confident in helping me converse at that level. I am so grateful to have found her!

Dr. Leila is a gracious lady who invariably has a student’s best interests in mind. She enjoys discussing both the most minor and the most vexing points of Persian grammar, all the while keeping the ultimate goal - progressing in the language - firmly in sight. Dr. Leila plans each lesson well, keeping a Plan B on the shelf in case Plan A proves too difficult or is confounded by an unforeseen issue. Her lessons are as interesting as the language itself. She passes her own enthusiasm for Persian to the student and as a result, I find myself anxious to begin my homework as soon as a lesson has been completed. Dr. Leila is a serious teacher, all business from the first bell. But a ready sense of humor lies close to the surface and it’s clear she enjoys the give and take of a lesson as much as the student. Her long experience as a teacher of Persian is apparent: Wisdom, experience and depth of knowledge make Dr. Leila an exceptional Persian teacher whom I recommend.

Leila is a wonderful teacher! Our conversations cover a wide variety of topics and we always have interesting discussions. More importantly, is she able to give very useful and detailed feedback and corrections without ever interrupting the flow of the conversation. Both my speaking and writing have improved leaps and bounds since studying with Leila. Unsurprisingly, as a lecturer in Persian Literature, Leila's knowledge of Persian literature is second to none. Her lessons are ideal for the intermediate-advanced student who wants to delve into Persian culture and be exposed to a wide variety of challenging yet rewarding texts, from the Shahnameh to contemporary Iranian short stories.

Another excellent lesson

Really enjoyed the lesson.