Home Courses Languages Persian Courses Persian Courses CoursesBeauty and Fashion Courses Culture, Society and Environment Courses Dance Courses Handicrafts Courses Languages Arabic Courses Chinese Courses Danish courses Dutch Courses English Courses Estonian Courses Finnish Courses French Courses German Courses Greek Courses Italian Courses Japanese Courses Korean Courses Latin Courses Persian Courses Polish Courses Portuguese Courses Russian Courses Spanish Courses Swedish Courses Thai courses Ukrainian courses Benefits for Members of the Pro Trade Union Media, Computer skills and Photography Music Courses Sports Courses Theatre and Improvisation Visual arts Well-being Courses Written Expression and Communication Open University Studies Benefits for Union Members Tiivistelmä On our Persian courses at Helsingin aikuisopisto, you can start learning Persian, also known as Farsi, from scratch and continue at beginner level (level 0–A1.3). In spring 2027 we offer an intensive beginners’ course, its continuation course, a beginners’ continuation course and Persian 3. You learn the Persian alphabet and writing, basic grammar and everyday conversation and discover Persian culture along the way. Classes are held at our building in Töölö (Runeberginkatu 22–24), and you can join all courses online via Zoom. The courses cost €117 and €134. Please note that our Persian courses are taught in Finnish, Persian and English, and the textbooks use English as their support language. The language of instruction is always shown in the course details in the registration system. See all our courses taught in English. Courses Frequently asked questions Registration The Persian language Persian (locally known as Farsi, فارسی) is an Indo-European language spoken in Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Bahrain. It has an estimated more than 50 million native speakers. Persian is written in the Arabic script, but it can also be written in the Latin alphabet. After Arabic, Persian is the most important language of learning in the Muslim world, and it has left its mark on both Turkish and the indigenous languages of the Indian subcontinent. Its literary history goes back long before Islam, to the ancient Persian Empire. Which course is right for you? If you want to…Explorestart Persian from scratchIntensive Persian for beginnerscontinue straight after the intensive beginners’ courseIntensive Persian for beginners, continuationcontinue for the whole spring after about one term of studyPersian beginners’ continuationpractise phone calls and everyday errands and read short storiesPersian 3join the class from homeTaking part online Courses in spring 2027 This list is based on the published spring 2027 programme. You can always find up-to-date information, course descriptions and available places in the registration system. All courses are held at Runeberginkatu 22–24 and taught by Samaneh Khalili, and you can also join them via Zoom. The Finnish course name is shown in brackets. On the beginner-level courses, you learn the Persian alphabet from the start and get to know basic grammar. On the continuation courses, you revise and build on your skills step by step and practise speaking in practical situations in pairs and small groups. You also learn about Persian culture. Intensive Persian for beginners, level 0 (Persian intensiivialkeet): Tue 16.30–18.30, 19 Jan – 16 Mar 2027, €117. The alphabet, writing, basic verbs, numbers and introducing yourself. No previous study is needed. Intensive Persian for beginners, continuation, A1.1 (Persian intensiivialkeiden jatko): Tue 16.30–18.30, 30 Mar – 18 May 2027, €117. Follows on from the intensive beginners’ course and also suits learners revising the basics. Persian beginners’ continuation, A1.1 (Persian alkeiden jatko): Tue 18.40–20.10, 12 Jan – 6 Apr 2027, €134. The present and past tenses, ordering in a restaurant and Iranian festivals and cities. For learners with about one term of Persian or the intensive beginners’ course. Persian 3, A1.3 (Persian jatko 3): Wed 17.00–18.30, 13 Jan – 7 Apr 2027, €134. The present continuous, the future tense, the weather, phone calls and visiting the doctor, as well as short stories and film clips. At beginner level, the textbook is Learn Persian Step by Step, Absolute Beginner Level One (Seifi), and Persian 3 uses Persian Prime A2 Level. Both use English as their support language. Taking part online via Zoom You can join all our Persian courses online via Zoom. The teacher emails you a link before the course starts, so please register at least three days before the first class if you can. In addition to an internet connection, you need a speaker or headphones and a microphone. Zoom guide for students. Good to know Location: Runeberginkatu 22–24, Helsinki, or online via Zoom. How to find us. Language of instruction: The courses are taught in Finnish, Persian and English, and the textbooks use English as their support language. Levels: The course levels follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (level 0, A1). Finnish national proficiency scale • Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Textbooks: Textbooks are not included in the course fee. We recommend that you buy the textbook right after the first class. You can buy textbooks from bookshops, online bookshops and publishers’ websites. We do not supply textbooks. Payment: Language courses cannot be paid for with Edenred or Epassi culture and sport benefits. If your employer offers a tax-free culture benefit (up to €400 a year) that you would like to use for language studies, we can make a separate agreement with your employer. You choose the course, and we invoice the full fee or the part your employer covers directly to your employer. Please contact our study guidance or office for more information. Certificate: You can request a certificate from our office once the course has ended. Frequently asked questions Are the Persian courses taught in English? Partly. The courses are taught in Finnish, Persian and English, and the textbooks use English as their support language. Can I start Persian from scratch in spring? Yes. Intensive Persian for beginners (level 0) starts in January, and no previous study is needed. It is followed by Intensive Persian for beginners, continuation, which starts at the end of March. Do I need to know the Persian alphabet before the course? No. On the intensive beginners’ course, you learn the alphabet and writing from scratch. Can I take part online? Yes. You can join all our Persian courses via Zoom. Please register at least three days before the course starts so that you receive the link in time. Can I join a course that has already started? Yes, on most courses. Register for the course but do not pay, and email toimisto@helao.fi to tell us when you will start. We will send you a payment link with an adjusted price. Can I pay with Edenred or Epassi? No. Language courses cannot be paid for with culture and sport benefits. You can, however, use a tax-free culture benefit from your employer through a separate agreement. Please contact our office for more information. See also Language courses: all the languages we teach. Arabic courses: colloquial and Modern Standard Arabic from beginner level. Culture, society and environment courses: wine, tea, boating and gardening courses, for example. Online courses: how to join courses on Zoom. Study languages from home: an article about studying languages online. Teachers of language courses: meet our teachers. Registration Browse all our Persian courses and register online. Our study guidance can help you choose a course and answer questions about your studies. For more information about our Persian courses, please contact Niina Kerppola, Head of Foreign Languages, at niina.kerppola@helao.fi.
