Allameh Tabataba’i University Strategic Recommendations for  Administrative Bodies

Allameh Tabataba’i University Strategic Recommendations for Administrative Bodies

Teaching and Dissemination of the Persian Language Worldwide: Consequences of the Coronavirus Outbreak

Author
Department of Linguistics, Allameh Tabataba'i University
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, through the widespread closure of language education centers, posed operational and institutional challenges to the teaching and dissemination of the Persian language worldwide, while simultaneously accelerating the transition to digital education. The shift of instruction to virtual spaces demonstrated that online classes, particularly at introductory levels, face greater difficulties; limitations such as expensive tools, weak internet and electricity infrastructure in certain countries, challenges in paying tuition fees to Iranian institutions, the absence of an effective emotional bond between instructors and learners, a shortage of digital educational resources, and difficulties in reliable assessment have reduced learning quality. Nonetheless, remote learning offers advantages such as overcoming geographical barriers, wider accessibility, the ability to record and replay lessons, temporal and spatial flexibility, enhanced opportunities for independent learning and counseling, and the reinforcement of intercultural interactions. Proposed strategies emphasize transforming educational approaches with an emphasis on the "flipped classroom" and "blended learning," designing a social network and software connecting Persian learners globally, adding the Persian language to international virtual education platforms, making credible resources and Persian-learner dictionaries accessible, developing a learner corpus, designing mobile learning applications, and establishing a national inter-institutional working group for integrated policymaking and a global network of Persian language teachers.
Keywords