Get 40% OFF with the You Can Speak sale! Hurry! Ends soon!
Get 40% OFF with the You Can Speak sale! Hurry! Ends soon!
PersianPod101.com Blog
Learn Persian with Free Daily
Audio and Video Lessons!
Start Your Free Trial 6 FREE Features

Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category

Eid al-Adha in Iran – Sacrifice and Charity

With a Muslim population of around 82,000,000 (or nearly 99.5% of the country), Iran is a hotspot for Islamic celebrations and observances. 

In this article, you’ll learn about one of the most important dates on the Islamic calendar: Eid al-Adha (or Eid-e-Qorban in Persian pronunciation). From this holiday’s origins to how devoted Muslims celebrate it today, PersianPod101.com will guide you through everything you need to know. 

Let’s get started!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Persian

1. What is Eid al-Adha?

A Young Goat

Eid al-Adha, often called “The Feast of the Sacrifice” in English, is one of the most important Muslim holidays worldwide. 

It originates from the story of Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his son Ismael. According to the Quran, Ibrahim had asked Allah to give him a son, and Allah did so. But as Ismael grew older, Ibrahim began having recurring dreams of slaughtering his son and realized it was an order from Allah to sacrifice his son. Upon Ibrahim telling his son this, Ismael told his father to do as Allah willed. Ibrahim prepared his son for the sacrifice and was about to slaughter him, but was stopped by a voice. This voice told him that the “vision” had already been completed. Ibrahim was given a lamb to sacrifice in Ismael’s place, and Ismael was revealed to be a righteous prophet.

Today, the Muslim celebration of this holiday focuses on selflessness and serves as a reminder that Allah blesses the faithful. Eid al-Adha is also associated with the willingness to give up cherished possessions to glorify Allah.

2. When is Eid ul-Adha in Iran?

Calendar Showing the Tenth Day of Dhu al-Hijjah

The date of Eid al-Adha varies each year on the Gregorian calendar, as it takes place on the دهم ذی الحجه (dahom-e zelhaj-jeh), or “tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah.” The holiday then lasts for roughly three days. 

Here’s a list of this holiday’s tentative start date for the next ten years.

YearStart Date
2020July 31
2021July 20
2022July 10
2023June 29
2024June 17
2025June 7
2026May 27
2027May 17
2028May 6
2029April 24

Note that these dates may not be entirely accurate, and may vary. The date of Eid al-Adha is officially determined each year by professional moon-sighters, and the dates above are only expected estimates.

3. How is Eid al-Adha Celebrated?

Muslims Gathered at a Mosque for the Eid al-Adha prayer

The most important of Eid al-Adha observances in Iran is that of the حج (haj), or “hajj.” This is the pilgrimage to Mecca and the Kaaba that practicing Muslims take each year (or at least once in their life), and Eid al-Adha marks the final rites of this hajj. The hajj is one of five pillars of Islam, making it an obligation for every Muslim. 

Many Muslims gather together in mosques for an Eid al-Adha prayer and offer each other Eid al-Adha wishes. Due to the occasion’s significance, most people wear new, high-quality clothing to attend the mass. 

In light of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son—and Allah’s provision of a گوسفند (goosfand), or “lamb,” to sacrifice in Ishmael’s place—most Muslims also make an animal sacrifice. This is usually a lamb or goat, which must be young and in good condition. The meat of the sacrificed animal is then split into three portions: one portion to give to the poor, one portion to take home to one’s own family, and one portion to give away to friends and relatives. 

It’s important to note that this sacrifice is not made as an atonement for sins, and it’s said that the blood and meat of the sacrifice do not reach Allah at all. Rather, this sacrifice is more about charity and giving, which are things that please Allah. As a result, on Eid al-Adha, even poorer Muslims are able to enjoy some good meat-based dishes! Kebabs and meaty stews are the most popular. 

Another custom for this holiday is to visit one’s family and offer them Eid al-Adha greetings. In particular, Muslim families will often ask each other for forgiveness during the visit. Doing so can clear the air of any negative feelings and allow them to better enjoy their time together. 

4. Draining Blood? 

On Eid al-Adha, Iranian Muslims often do something called ذبح (zebh), or “exsanguination.” This is when the sacrificial animal’s blood is drained, usually by slitting its throat, before it’s slaughtered. 

This is done in order to ensure that the animal’s meat is halal, and therefore fit for eating. According to the Quran, it’s forbidden to eat the blood of an animal, and there are certain rules concerning how an animal must be slaughtered to permit eating it. 

5. Essential Eid al-Adha Vocabulary

Muslims Gathered at the Kaaba during the Hajj

Let’s review some of the Persian vocabulary words and phrases from this article! 

  • عید قربان (eid-e ghorbaan) — “Eid-e Qorban”
  • دهم ذی الحجه (dahom-e zelhaj-jeh) — “tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah”
  • ابراهیم (ebraahim) — “Abraham”
  • اسماعیل (esmaa’il) — “Ishmael”
  • زائران کعبه (zaaeraan-e ka’be) — “Kaaba’s pilgrims”
  • حج (haj) — “hajj”
  • گوسفند (goosfand) — “lamb”
  • حاجی (haaji) — “hajji”
  • اعمال حج (a’maal-e haj) — “hajj rituals”
  • ذبح (zebh) — “Exsanguination”
  • نماز عید قربان (namaaz-e eid-e ghorbaan) — “Eid al-Adha prayer”

Remember that you can study these words further on our Persian Eid-e Qorban vocabulary list with audio pronunciations! 

Final Thoughts

The importance of Eid al-Adha in Iran can’t be overstated. This is a time of reaffirming one’s faith, coming together with fellow Muslims, and helping those in need. 

What are your thoughts on Eid al-Adha? Is there a similar celebration in your country or faith? Let us know in the comments! 

To continue learning about Iranian culture and the Persian language, check out these free resources from the PersianPod101.com blog:

Whatever your reasons for wanting to learn the Persian language or explore Iranian culture, know that PersianPod101 has your back! Create your free lifetime account today and take advantage of our numerous learning tools: themed vocabulary lists, spaced-repetition flashcards, audio and video lessons, and much more.

Stay safe out there, and happy Persian learning!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Persian

Iran Holidays: Martyrdom of Imam Reza in Iran

Martyrdom of Imam Reza

Each year, Shia Muslims remember and mourn the Martyrdom of Imam Reza in Iran. This was a great tragedy for Shia Muslims of the time, and the effects of Imam Reza’s death are still felt today.

In this article, you’ll learn a little about the history behind Imam Reza’s Martyrdom Anniversary, and how it affects Iranian culture today.

At PersianPod101.com, we aim to make every aspect of your language-learning journey both fun and informative. Let’s get started!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Persian

1. What is Imam Reza’s Martyrdom Anniversary?

On the anniversary of Imam Reza’s martyrdom, Shia Muslims deeply mourn the death and supposed murder of Imam Reza, also known as Ali Alridha.

Serving as the eighth Shia Imam from 799 A.D. to 818 A.D., following the death of his father, Imam Reza held great influence over the Abbasid Empire. So much, in fact, that he was due to take on the position of the new Caliph, replacing the current Caliph of the time.

But this current Caliph felt uncomfortable and even threatened by Imam Reza’s influence and power within the society. Many Shia Muslims today hold that this fear drove him to murder Imam Reza via poison.

Imam Reza’s murder took place in the midst of a time of hardship for Shia Muslims. Shiite revolts were rampant, and Imam Reza’s position as the new Caliph was meant to help assuage and put a stop to these problems. Unfortunately, Imam Reza didn’t live to fulfill this goal, and each year, the Shia Muslims in Iran mourn this.

2. When is the Imam Reza Martyrdom Anniversary?

The Eight Imam

The date of the Martyrdom of Imam Reza commemoration varies each year on the Gregorian calendar, taking place on the twenty-ninth or thirtieth day of the Islamic month of Safar. For your convenience, here’s a list of this holiday’s date for the next ten years:

  • 2019: October 29
  • 2020: October 17
  • 2021: October 7
  • 2022: September 26
  • 2023: September 15
  • 2024: September 4
  • 2025: August 24
  • 2026: August 14
  • 2027: August 3
  • 2028: July 22

3. Traditions for the Anniversary of Imam Reza’s Martyrdom

haroon

As mentioned earlier, the anniversary of the Martyrdom of Imam Reza is a day of mourning.

In general, Shia Muslims tend to visit the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad on this day. The Imam Reza shrine is one of the most significant sites in Iran, and it’s common to find many people here in honor of Imam Reza.

4. Mashhad

Mashhad is the city in which Imam Reza was buried after his death. At the time, this city was just a village inside Khorasan Province; it was named Mashhad to reflect the man buried there, and the tragedy that caused his death. Mashhad translates to “the place of martyrdom.”

Because the shrine of Imam Reza is located here, Mashhad has become a massive tourist destination. While Shia Muslims visit this shrine by the millions as part of their mourning, it’s not uncommon to find travelers and tourists visiting this city as well.

There are a few more fascinating things about Mashhad that draw much tourist attraction:

  • It holds the tomb of Ferdowsi, a poet.
  • It’s the main hub of leather production in Iran.
  • It’s home to the “Charm Mashhad” company.

5. Vocabulary to Know for the Martyrdom of Imam Reza

Succession

Here’s some Persian vocabulary you should know for the commemoration of the Martyrdom of Imam Reza:

  • امام هشتم (emaam-e hashtom) — The eighth Imam
  • اهل بيت (ahl-e beit) — Ahlolbeit
  • هارون (haaroon) — Haroon
  • مأمون (ma’moon) — Mamoon
  • خاندان عبّاسى (khaandaan-e abbasi) — Abbasi family
  • امام رضا (emaam rezaa) — Imam Reza
  • خلافت (khelaafat) — Caliphate
  • ولايتعهدى (velaayat-e ahdi) — Succession

To hear each of these vocabulary words pronounced, and to read them alongside relevant images for enhanced comprehension, be sure to visit our Martyrdom of Imam Reza word list!

Final Thoughts

The death of the eighth Shia Imam, Ali Alridha, is considered a tragedy by Shia Muslims. The day on which they mourn and commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Reza is one of the most significant holidays in Iran.

What are your thoughts on this day of commemoration and the history behind it? Does your country have a special day to mourn or remember the death of a beloved figure? Let us know in the comments!

Learning about the history and culture of a country may be one of the most fascinating and enriching aspects of mastering its language. If you’re interested in learning more cultural information about Iran, you may want to check out the following pages on PersianPod101.com:

At PersianPod101.com, it’s our goal to make language-learning simple and as painless as possible. We provide tons of free lessons, vocabulary lists, and blog posts on both Iranian culture and the Persian language. Get started by creating a free lifetime account today!

Happy Persian learning!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Persian

How to Learn Persian in Your Car?

How to Learn Persian in Your Car? Learn language in car

Stuck in traffic? Losing time in your car? Have you ever felt that in all this wasted time, you could have watched the 750 episodes of One Piece, finished the last Super Mario ten times, or even better…you could have learned Persian? Between family, friends and work, in addition to this time-consuming commute, it can become difficult to find time to properly learn Persian.

Fortunately, every problem has a solution, and what could be a better solution than turning that commute time into learning time? Stop passing the time mindlessly listening to the radio and try some of our best tips for mastering Persian in your car!

https://media.giphy.com/media/3o6Mb2Qgu6RbzYlByU/giphy.gif

Click Here To Start Learning Persian Right Now!

You can learn Persian in your car, hands free
While driving, it’s important that you keep your focus on the road, so this is why our top tips won’t require you to use your hands!

Listening to Persian audio content in the car is a good way to learn
This is because it is a fun and efficient way to learn. With PersianPod101.com podcasts, you will be able to discover Persian culture through topics about everyday life. Instead of the radio, listen to a Persian podcast adapted to your level, from Absolute Beginner to Advanced, and you will make progress sooner that you would expect!

https://media.giphy.com/media/pXsF2CgWoiel2/giphy.gif

You can listen to Persian music in the car
Did you know that you can learn Persian by singing while driving? Listen to songs from cartoon or drama and try to identify some words you learned.

Challenge yourself! Use the Persian you’ve studied up to this point and see how much you understand! Making the jump to real-life Persian is a scary one, but friendly children’s songs are a great place to start!

https://media.giphy.com/media/gPPA7RUH34HSg/giphy.gif

Click Here To Sign Up For A FREE Lifetime Account!

You can learn alone in your car
When you’re driving alone, you can be as loud as you want – there is nothing better for remembering your Persian lessons than repeating loudly, again and again. Next time you see a driver who seems to be talking alone, you will know he or she is just learning Persian!

https://media.giphy.com/media/uSXTDFYDWpelW/giphy.gif

You can learn through repetition with your passengers
If there are passengers in the car, it can be more stimulating to learn together. You can set a role play with Persian dialogues. With PersianPod101.com, you can download all the lessons transcript including the dialogues, as a PDF. Print it out and have some fun speaking in Persian!

One of the passengers can answer the quiz available on each of our lessons, while another can correct that person. Listening to someone at a more advanced level of Persian or a better accent is positive and helps you improve.

You can learn Persian offline
Do you have a poor connection or are unable to use the Internet? It’s not a problem for learning Persian! Before you start your commute, use our App to download the lessons you want to study and the podcast you want to listen to in your car, and you will be able to enjoy your lessons offline. Entering a tunnel won’t be a problem anymore. What a pleasure to listen to audio content without having the host freezing every 5 seconds!

https://media.giphy.com/media/yjos61Qgsy17q/giphy.gif

Click here to download the App and learn offline!

You can learn every day at your own pace
One of the best approaches for learning a language is little by little and often. It’s not efficient to take in a huge amount of information at one time. What you need is to study on a regular basis – a little bit of Persian every day. You commute several days a week, and that is all time you can take advantage of!

You have the freedom to choose the lessons and podcasts you want to focus on, at your own rhythm. You may want to do a little revision or discover how to talk about a new topic. And if you’re wondering what to learn next, you can use the new Learning Paths, which is our customized pathway feature that gives you a step-by-step way to learn Persian without getting lost!

https://media.giphy.com/media/rdma0nDFZMR32/giphy.gif

Click here to access Learning Paths at PersianPod101!

If you don’t have a car and commute by another method, these tips are still valid! Learning Persian is no longer limited to the classroom or your house; there are so many benefits to learning in your car or elsewhere. Reaching a conversational level will take you less time than you could ever have imagined! Don’t forget to sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and enjoy our content!

Introducing Our Brand New Dashboard!

Hey Listeners!

Guess what? Your language learning goals just got a little easier!

As you’ve probably realized by now, there have been some major improvements made to your dashboard! These updates have been designed to improve your overall experience with the website and help keep you organized and on-track! Here are a few of the changes:

  • Your progress is now tracked right, smack in the middle of the page to keep you motivated and organized.
  • A new, sleek and easy to navigate design allows you to worry less about where to click and more on learning Persian!
  • An enlarged profile picture that gives your dashboard a unique and more personal feel.
  • A new layout for the “Latest News” feed to keep you informed on all of the most recent PersianPod101.com updates.
  • Bigger buttons to make it easier on the eyes. Locate your all of your lessons and materials faster than ever.

Stay tuned, as more updates are being rolled out later in the month!

Enjoy your new dashboard,

Team PersianPod101

P.S. Get Access To Our My Teacher Tool For Extra Help!
As you may have noticed, on the left side of your dashboard is our My Teacher feature. This tool allows you to have 1-on-1 interaction with your very own personal teacher! This is only available to our Premium Plus subscribers, so be sure to upgrade if you want to take your studies to the next level!

Click Here To Sign Up For Premium Plus Now!

The Top 5 Reasons To Learn A New Language… NOW!

Click Here To Learn Persian NOW!

Are you currently debating whether or not to learn Persian?

You aren’t alone. Learning a new language requires a huge investment of time, and often money as well. That’s why so many people are hesitant to spend the amount of effort required to become fluent in another language. However, learning a new language can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life and there are a number of reasons why you should start studying one… and start studying now!

Click Here And Start Learning Persian With A FREE Account!

Start Studying Persian Now!

More Opportunities
That’s right. It’s not rocket science. A new language can open up many new doors. You’re able to work in countries other than your own, leading to a world of new opportunities. It can also qualify you for many new jobs in your home country as well! There are tons of employers who look to hire multilingual professionals every year!

Meeting New People
This may be one of the most rewarding parts of learning a new language. You’ll be able to get to know speakers of other languages on a more personal level. Meeting people from around the world is one of the main reasons people begin to study a language, so don’t ever feel like making new friends isn’t a good enough reason to start studying!

Exploring A Different Culture
Whether you decide to live abroad, or you’re just taking a vacation, knowing the local language will give you the ability to better understand the people and culture of a different country. This can open your eyes to not only their country, but your country as well! You can understand how people see your home from their perspective.

Stop Procrastinating And Start Learning! Sign Up For FREE Here!

Start Studying Persian Now!

Health Benefits
Good news! Studying a new language actually comes with health benefits! Studying a new language helps keep your brain sharp! By studying every day, you’re helping your mind fight off the old age and stay fresh!

Because It’s Fun
When it comes down to it, learning a new language is just plain fun! There’s always something new to learn and the rewards are endless! Whether your goal is to meet new people or to get a job in a new country, language learning is something that is actually enjoyable!

Start Learning Persian For Free By Clicking Here!

There are millions of reasons to learn a new language, so what are you waiting for? Dive in head first and start studying with us! You can sign up for a FREE lifetime account and start achieving your Persian language goals today!

The Anniversary Starts Now! 53% OFF Premium. The Biggest Persian Discount of 2015!

The Anniversary Starts Now! 53% OFF Premium. The Biggest Persian Discount of 2015!

Hello Listener,

With the holiday season fast approaching, we understand your time is short and the to-do list is long so we’ll come straight to it:

Your Dream of Learning Persian Will Never Be More Affordable Than During Our 10-Year Anniversary Countdown!

During the special 10-Year Anniversary Countdown, PersianPod101 is offering 10 special deals that will help make your dream more affordable than ever! Each deal lasts just 1 day and we’re kicking this off with our BIGGEST DEAL FIRST, which is…

MASSIVE 53% OFF 24-Month Premium – Click Here To Save!

MASSIVE 53% OFF 24-Month Premium – Click Here To Save!

During our 10-Year Anniversary Countdown, we’re celebrating more than 500 million lesson downloads, 100,000s of success stories and 10 years of helping people realize their dream of learning Persian with one of our biggest deals EVER!

Get Unlimited Access at 53% OFF & Speak Persian From Your 1st Lesson
Our Premium plan is our most popular plan. Why? You unlock 70+ hours of Persian audio and video lessons by real teachers and the study tools you need to MASTER Persian. And today only, for less than half the price, you get unlimited access to:

  • Exclusive! App for iPhone, iPad or Android: Learn Persian anywhere, anytime. Take your Persian lessons on the go with you.
  • The Biggest Lesson Library in the World: 370+ Persian audio and video lessons by real teachers. From Absolute Beginner level to Advanced.
  • For Existing Members! New Audio & Video Lessons EVERY Week: As an existing member, you get new audio and video lessons non-stop.
  • Feedback from Persian Teachers: Have a question? Leave a comment and get feedback from our Persian teachers.
  • Printable Lesson Notes & Transcripts: Get each lesson in writing with PDF lesson notes and transcripts. Read along or review after a lesson.
  • Learning Guidance From the Pros: We guide you through the lessons. You’ll know which lessons to study and where to go next.

This is THE Best Deal of 2015! Click Here to Save a Massive $127.20 on Premium!

  • Exclusive! Custom Lists App: Create your own Persian word lists and take advantage of other users’ lists to master even more vocab.
  • Motivational Progress Reports: Stay motivated and succeed with Persian. We track your progress so you know how much you’ve accomplished.
  • 2,000 Must-Know Words List: All the Persian words you need for conversational fluency. Use this with Flashcards and the Word Bank.
  • Smart, Memory-Boosting Flashcards: Learn Persian words FAST with Flashcards that improve your memory and quiz you on the hard words.
  • Your Personal Word Bank: Your personal word list. Save new words and phrases that you learn for later review.
  • Line-By-Line Pronunciation: Hear every line from the lesson conversation again and again. Great for improving reading, speaking and listening skills.
  • Voice Recording Tools to Perfect your Pronunciation: Record yourself and compare your Persian with native speakers’.
  • Review Quizzes: Review what you’ve learned after every lesson with quizzes.

Ends Tonight! Click Here to Learn Persian for Just $4.70/Month or $0.15/Day!

Warning! This Expires At Midnight – No Exceptions!

Since it’s our 10-Year Anniversary, we’re truly pulling out all the stops and celebrating with special deals to suit any need or budget. However, be warned:

1. All Deals End at Midnight: There will be no extensions made: Every deal during our 10-Year Anniversary ends at midnight and will NEVER be seen again!
2. All Deals Expire in 24 Hours or Less: All deals will be announced in the morning and a reminder sent in the evening, so each offer lasts for 24 hours or less.
3. Our Best Deal is NOW! That’s right: We’re starting off with our best deal FIRST during our anniversary with a BIG 53% OFF. That’s $127.20 in savings.

Click Here to Get 53% OFF & Learn Persian with 70+ Hours of Lessons!

We’ve helped more than 100,000 people realize their dream of learning Persian. And now, it’s even more affordable. You get 70+ hours of audio and video lessons and our ENTIRE learning system for just $4.70/month or $0.15/day. But here’s the best part:

Signing Up is Risk-free With Our 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee.

Take a full 60 days to try it for yourself. If you decide later that you don’t have time to learn Persian or if you are dissatisfied for any reason, contact us for a full refund.

Here’s how you sign up and take advantage of this special discount:

  1. Click on any link to be taken to the coupon page.
  2. Enter your payment information.
  3. Finally, click on “Complete” at the bottom of the page.
  4. You’ll receive an instant confirmation email.
  5. Start learning Persian with 70+ hours of Persian lessons!

Ends Tonight! Click Here to Learn Persian for Just $4.70/Month or $0.15/Day!

Hurry, this opportunity ends at MIDNIGHT TONIGHT! Our dedicated customer service team is standing by to answer any questions that you might have.

To Seizing Opportunities,

Team PersianPod101

P.S. Although we have more great deals on the way during our 10-Year Anniversary Countdown, today’s deal is your one and ONLY chance to save a whopping 53% OFF our most popular Premium plan…so don’t delay and make your dream a reality! Act now!

Click Here to Get 53% OFF – Learning Persian Will Never be More Affordable

P.P.S. A new offer starts tonight, 12AM (EST), December 8th, 2015. Take advantage right now because signing up is risk-free with our 60-day money-back guarantee!

5 Tips To Motivate Yourself While Learning A Second Language

5 Tips to Motivate Yourself

1. Schedule your time.

One of the most important factors in keeping your motivation up is developing it into a habit. Whether it be 20 minutes or 3 hours, schedule time to study every day and stick to it. Regular exposure solidifies what you learn and keeps you progressing. To make sure you stick to your routine, a great idea is to build a schedule for your day and decide that every day/Monday/weekend, you study from 6pm to 8pm. Just remember that 30 minutes a day, every day, is better than a binge 8-hour study session at the end of the week (though it’s obviously better than nothing).

2. Learn a word a day with our great Word of the Day learning tool.

Trying to learn everything at once and getting overwhelmed by the sheer number of words in your new language is not a good idea. Sometimes, even if you do learn new words, you forget them quickly because you haven’t heard them enough in context. As mentioned above, daily exposure to new words is an important factor in solidifying your target language. Our Word of the Day tool delivers you daily words and phrases, shows you how to pronounce them and use them in different contexts. Since you can get the WOTD via email, Facebook, or Twitter, this is a passive way of learning a language that fits into your existing daily social media routine. It only takes 3 minutes to review a word and practice its pronunciation, so you can do it on the way to work, in the gym, or even before you go to bed.

Click here to get the Persian Word of the Day for FREE!

3. Make friends!

Make friends!

If there’s a community of people who speak the language you want to learn in your city, start attending those events! Friendship is the easiest way to get comfortable with the slang, intonation, and mannerisms of a new language. The key to learning any language is speaking a lot, so try to find a native speaker who can be your conversation partner. Having friends that speak your target language means that you will find yourself in situations where you have no choice but to speak that language. But since they are your friends, you will be doing things you enjoy with them. So these situations will probably have little or no stress. These friendships will also mean that you have someone you can ask about language, culture, and so on.

4. Take a break!

Break time

If you’re having an off day or if your brain is already tired of studying, see if you can take a break and do something fun AND useful. Comic books, illustrated stories, and cartoons are a fun way to keep learning while reducing the target language text load for weary eyes. Plus, the images help you plant lasting seeds of memory, as researchers say humor opens up cognitive doors. This is a way to keep the target language active in your brain without the strain of studying a textbook.

Don’t get stuck with the same content though. When things start to bore you, move on. Change up your books, movies, anime, music, dramas, and so on when they start getting old.

5. Don’t give up!

As with any goal, there are going to be pitfalls along the way. You’d have to be incredibly determined to never have an off-day or consider giving up. And when you do it’s ok, but the important thing is to pick yourself up after this temporary setback and keep going. Knowing you’ve overcome a few obstacles is only going to make the moment you have your first conversation in another language that much sweeter. Like the Persian proverb says, ‘Fall down seven times, stand up eight.’

If you need more motivation, check out this list of the Top 10 Inspirational Quotes in Persian.

New App Update! Get The Newest Persian Lessons For Free No Matter Where You Are

New update! Click here to download Innovative Language 101 for free!

Hello Listener,

Did you know that every new PersianPod101 lesson is yours free?

Fact: All new lessons are open to everyone for 3 weeks after the publish date. This is one of the major benefits of the Free Lifetime Account. Just sit back and learn. High-quality Persian audio and video lessons come out every week.

But here’s what’s new…
You now get the newest lessons on your mobile device, anywhere, anytime!

New update! Click here to download Innovative Language 101 for free!

New update! Click here to download Innovative Language 101 for free!

Users requested this. We listened. Innovative Language 101 for the iPhone, iPad and Androidthe App that gives you your lessons on the go – has an awesome new update: Newest Lessons.

If you’re learning Persian and want to get all new lessons all the time, you absolutely can’t miss out on this. With this update, you get:

  • Access to lessons from the past 3 weeks
  • Access to every single new lesson that comes out
  • …and you can download them to your device for extra study!

When you log in to the App, simply tap on the “Newest Lessons” icon for all the latest and greatest lessons. Every time a lesson is published, you will find it here. High-quality Persian audio and video lessons come out every week.

New update! Click here to download Innovative Language 101 for free!

Remember: Every new PersianPod101 lesson is yours free. This a major benefit of the Free Lifetime Account. New lessons are open to everyone for 3 weeks after the publish date. High-quality Persian audio and video lessons come out every week.

If you run into any bugs or issues with this new update, feel free to send us a quick email at mobileapps@innovativelanguage.com.

To new free Persian lessons for life,

Team PersianPod101

P.S. Want to unlock the entire PersianPod101 learning system? That’s 60+ hours of lessons from Beginner to Advanced – that you can take on the go – exclusive Apps, Progress Tracking, Premium Study Tools, Feedback from Teachers and much more! Simply upgrade to Basic, Premium or Premium PLUS for more access.

Click here to upgrade to Basic, Premium or Premium PLUS!

Want to speak more Persian? New PersianPod101 lesson series start January 5th!

Hi Listener,

Want to speak more Persian in 2015?

You need exposure to native Persian conversation from day 1. You need a Persian speaker to explain it all – the words, the grammar, and cultural nuances.

And you get all of that in every single PersianPod101 lesson.

In fact, we’re starting up a brand new season just in time for the New Year!

Starting January 5th, 2015, we’ll be publishing brand new seasons of Audio and Video Lessons to get you mastering Persian the fast, fun and easy way! Want to know what you can expect?

Here’s PersianPod101’s Lesson Schedule:

  • Monday: Beginner Series – Culture Class – Essential Vocabulary
  • Tuesday: Video Series – Persian Listening Comprehension
  • Thursday: Throwback Thursday Lessons (Get a free random lesson from the past sent directly to your e-mail inbox.)
  • Friday: Video Series – Culture Class – Iranian Holidays
  • Sunday: News & Announcement: Sunday News

Remember, PersianPod101’s newest lessons are free for the first three weeks! You have three weeks worth of lessons at any given time. Oh, and the first 3 lessons of every series are free too!

Check out the newest PersianPod101 lessons for free!
Click here to learn Persian with the newest lessons for FREE!

To your fluency!

Team PersianPod101

P.S. Want to go Premium AND get our entire Persian learning system?
Take advantage of this quick 20% OFF and get unlimited PersianPod101 access. All lessons, all lesson notes, exclusive apps, study tools – they’re all yours. Upgrade now and start speaking Persian from the very first lesson.

Click here to learn Persian at 20% OFF with unlimited Premium access!

December Newsletter: Year in Review & 3 Persian New Year’s Gifts Inside

Click Here To Get Your Gifts!

Hello Listener,

The year’s about to come to a close. While you were improving your Persian, we were busy churning out great new updates, features and lessons. 2014 was a fantastic time to learn language with us.

Here are a few reasons why:

  • 3,343+ New Lessons spanning over 31 languages published this year.
  • 300 Million Lesson Downloads across all sites, since our start in 2005.
  • 2 New Language Learning Sites: PersianClass & PersianPod101. That’s a total of 31 languages you can learn with Innovative Language.
  • Innovative Language 101 App launched for the Android, iPhone, iPad & Kindle Fire so you can learn Persian on the go.
  • New Features: Vocab Lists, Season Vocabulary & Premium PLUS My Teacher tool for 1-on-1 Persian learning at PersianPod101.

As our final thank you to you, dear listener, we’ve included 3 gifts inside this December Newsletter: a New Year’s video lesson, a Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions in Persian phrase list and the Newly upgraded Core Word Lists.

Click here to get your 3 New Year’s Gifts from PersianPod101!

Click Here To Get Your Gifts!

Thank you for learning Persian the fast, fun and easy way in 2014. Starting in January 2015, we have EVEN MORE free lessons, gifts, giveaways and new features for you.

From all of us at PersianPod101 and Innovative Language Learning – including our lesson writers, hosts, teachers, editors, customer care representatives and technical staff – we wish you and your family a safe, happy and healthy New Year!

Thanks for reading,

Peter Galante, Founder, and the Innovative Language Team

P.S. New lessons begin on Monday, January 5th, 2015!

Happy New Year! Click here to get your New Year’s Gifts from PersianPod101!