CLS Persian Institute in Dushanbe, Tajikistan ТоҷикистонLocation: Dushanbe, Tajikistan (Тоҷикистон). Dushanbe, the nation’s capital, means “Monday” in Tajik, as the city traces its origins back to the site of a weekly market that occurred every Monday.
Background:
Tajikistan is a mountainous country, located in Central Asia (see map below). The
majority of the population is comprised of the Tajik ethnic group which shares
its culture and history with Persia (modern-day Afghanistan and Iran). Tajikistan, initially a part of the ancient Persian and later
Samanid empires, was created by the USSR in 1924 as an Autonomous Soviet
Socialist Republic within Uzbekistan. Tajikistan was separated from Uzbekistan
in 1929 and became a Soviet Socialist Republic. After the fall of the USSR in
1991, Tajikistan became an independent country and is celebrating its 20th
year as a nation this September.
Host institution: American Institute of
Iranian Studies (http://www.simorgh-aiis.org/),
in partnership with the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan.
Languages: Persian;
Tajik-Persian.
Levels: Advanced
beginning, intermediate and advanced Persian; Elementary Tajik-Persian.
Students: The
CLS Persian Institute hosted twenty-one students from June 9– August 4, 2011.
Academics: The
CLS Persian Institute offers courses designed to develop students’ listening,
reading, speaking, spoken interaction, and writing skills. Students receive a
minimum of 20 hours per week of formal classroom instruction. Farsi and Tajik
language textbooks are provided, in addition to selected readings from
classical Persian texts, newspapers, and short stories.
A number of native Persian speakers are available to work
with students outside of class on topics and materials of their choice, such as
writing, reading on specialized or class topics, and conversational and
comprehension skills.
Housing: Students
are housed in rented apartments within walking distance of the Tajik Academy of
Sciences, located on Rudaki Avenue, the main street of Dushanbe.
Cultural activities:
Cultural excursions are organized each weekend, usually on Saturdays, to
visit museums and historical sites in and around Dushanbe. Examples of cultural
excursions include a visit to the medieval fortress of Hissor, the Yaqub
Charkhi Sufi shrine, and the National Museum of Antiquities.
A
highlight of the program is a weekend visit to the northern city of Khojand. Participants
stay with Tajik host families and visit local sites including the Historical
Museum of Soghd Province, the city’s famous Panjshanbe Bazaar, and the Arbob
Khojaev Museum.
Interesting facts:
- The official language of Tajikistan is Tajik, though Dari, Russian and Uzbek are also spoken.
- The majority of the population in Tajikistan is composed of Sunni Muslims, followed by Shiite Muslims and Christians.
- The “Silk Road,” an ancient trade route between China and Europe, passed through Tajikistan.
- Over ninety percent of the area in Tajikistan is mountainous and more than fifty percent of the country is over 3,000 meters (approx. 10,000 ft.) above sea level.
- Mining, textiles, and hydroelectric energy are the major industries of Tajikistan.
- According to the CIA Factbook, nearly 1 million Tajiks work abroad (predominantly in Russia) and support their families in Tajikistan through remittances.
Testimonials:
“The Farsi teachers are
excellent here. They are highly qualified and are available to help students
whenever problems arise. The tutoring and special classes are definitely a big
plus with this program.”
–CLS 2011
participant
“Get a soccer ball
and go to the park--tons of kids of all ages who would love to play. Be
warned--even the little ones are way better than you think. Buy some big
water bottles and share with them. It will be hot and the small luxury of
bottled water is something they may not be able to afford. Small gestures
go a long way. Great for language practice as well.” --CLS 2010 participant
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| Bryan Pryor |
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