Iran (Persian: ايران) is a large country located in the Middle East, between the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea. It is bordered by Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan’s Naxcivan enclave, Armenia, and Azerbaijan to the northwest, Turkmenistan to the northeast, Afghanistan and Pakistan to the southeast.
About the Persian Language
Persian (called fārsi in Persian, فارسی), an Indo-European language, is Iran’s national and official language. Although Persian is written with a modified Arabic alphabet, the two languages are not related but Persian does contain a very large number of Arabic loanwords, many of which form part of basic Persian vocabulary.
Persian Classes in Iran
There are several places offering Persian language courses to foreigners in Iran, both in groups and private one on one. Popular places to study include Tehran, Hamedan, Isfahan, Kerman, Mashad, Qom, Shiraz, Tabriz and Yazd.
Is English Spoken in Iran?
Many young Iranians in major cities, and almost certainly those working in international travel agents and high-end hotels will speak conversational English but basic Persian phrases will definitely come in handy, particularly in rural areas.
Road signs are often double signed in English, but few other signs are. As an extra challenge, most Persian signage uses an ornate calligraphic script that bears little resemblance to its typed form. This can make comparing typed words in phrase books such as ‘bank’ and ‘hotel’ – to signs on buildings quite difficult. However it is still worth memorising the Persian script for a few key words such as restaurant, guesthouse, and hotel (see relevant sections below for the script).
Be aware that Kurdish and Azeri languages are also spoken in areas of large Kurdish and Azeri populations.
Studying in Iran FAQ
Safety
Despite what you might think, Iran is a very safe country for tourist and international visitors. It is important to check latest safety notices before departing though.