Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Date
15 April 2026
Time
Dates: 2-22 September 2026
Course Fee: 700 USD
Deadline: 15 June 2026
Language: English and Tajik
Level: Undergraduate and Postgraduate
The Tajik, Dari or Persian? Evolution of Iranian Languages and Cultures: A Cross-Cultural Approach summer school is an exciting opportunity for both international and local students to deepen their understanding of Persian languages and cultures. This immersive program, set against the backdrop of modern Tajikistan, will focus on Persian’s evolution across various regional contexts and its profound cultural and historical impact.
Course Highlights:
- Multidisciplinary Approach: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the plurality of Persian cultural heritage and its significant impact across Central Asia and beyond.
- Critical Research Engagement: Through the study of local forms of knowledge production and the creation, consumption, and conservation of cultural heritage, students will explore questions such as:
- How is Persian cultural heritage understood in Tajikistan?
- What is the relationship between Tajik, Dari, Farsi, and other Iranian languages like Yaghnobi and Pamiri?
- How does the Persian poetic legacy influence contemporary heritage politics in Tajikistan?
- Language Learning: Intensive Tajik and Pamiri language lessons will be provided. Beginners will focus on conversational Tajik, while advanced students can refine their skills through interactive tandem learning with local students.
- Collaborative Research: Students will work in groups, conducting mini-research projects on aspects of cultural heritage in Central Asia. This hands-on approach will encourage critical thinking, fieldwork, and discussions with local experts.
- Cross Debate Format (CDF): Participate in a unique dialectic tool used in Central Asia to foster discussion and the exchange of diverse perspectives on heritage-related topics.
Key Learning Experiences:
- Interactive Language Lessons: Two weeks of immersive language lessons and cultural exercises in Dushanbe.
- Cultural Workshops and Lectures: Engage with researchers from the University of Central Asia and other institutions, and participate in workshops, discussions, and excursions.
- Final Research Project: Present your mini-research findings in a multi-media format and contribute to the digital archive for future dialogical research.
Who Should Apply?
This summer school is ideal for undergraduate and postgraduate students interested in Persian languages, Central Asian cultures, and heritage studies. It is open to students from a variety of disciplines including anthropology, history, linguistics, and area studies.