I bought “Teach Yourself Complete Modern Persian” at a used bookshop in Navigli, Milan, for €8. The previous owner had highlighted exactly three pages before giving up. I lasted longer. made it through Chapter 8 before the same feeling crept in. Not frustration, exactly. More like the slow realization that I was learning a version of Persian that existed only inside this book.
Narguess Farzad wrote a textbook that does what it promises: it teaches you formal, written Persian from scratch, with clear grammar tables and a logical progression. The problem is what it doesn’t promise. and what most learners actually need.
Level: A1-B1 | Time: 30-60 min/day | Cost: Budget (~$25) | Best for: Grammar, Reading
The Verdict: 5.5/10
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Persian Specificity | 6/10 |
| Real-World Usefulness | 4/10 |
| Value for Money | 7/10 |
| Elyar’s Verdict | 5/10 |
What’s In the Book
Twenty-two chapters covering the Persian alphabet, basic grammar (present tense, past tense, compound verbs, ezafe), reading passages, and cultural notes. The book comes with audio files. or used to. Finding working audio links in 2026 is an adventure in itself. My copy pointed to a Hodder Education URL that returned a 404.
Each chapter follows the same structure: a dialogue in Persian script, transliteration, vocabulary list, grammar explanation, and exercises. The dialogues are set in Iran. visiting friends, shopping at the bazaar, going to the doctor. which is a nice touch compared to textbooks that pretend Persian is spoken in a cultural vacuum.
What Works
Grammar Tables Are Genuinely Good
Farzad’s grammar explanations are the book’s strongest feature. The verb conjugation tables are clear, the ezafe section actually makes sense (a rarity), and compound verbs get proper treatment. If you’re the kind of learner who wants to understand why the language works a certain way. not just memorize phrases. this book delivers.
The chapter on compound verbs (Chapter 14) is particularly well done. She breaks down how kardan (کردن), shodan (شدن), and zadan (زدن) combine with nouns and adjectives, with enough examples that the pattern clicks. I’ve seen university courses that explain this worse.
Persian Script From Day One
No Finglish crutch here. Farzad introduces the alphabet in the first two chapters and expects you to read script throughout. She includes transliteration alongside, but the intention is clear: learn the script or struggle. This is the right approach. Learners who skip the alphabet always hit a wall later.
Where It Falls Short for Persian Learners
It Teaches a Persian Nobody Speaks
This is the fatal flaw. Every dialogue, every example, every exercise uses formal written Persian. Mikhāham beravam (میخواهم بروم) instead of mikham beram (میخوام برم). Āyā shomā engelisi sohbat mikonid? instead of engelisi baladi?
After three chapters, you’ll be able to construct grammatically correct sentences that no Iranian under 90 would say in conversation. My cousin in Tehran read one of the dialogues and said it sounded like a government press conference.
Audio Is a Disaster
The audio links are broken. Even when they worked, reviews from earlier editions complained the recordings were stiff and studio-bound. In 2026, you’re essentially buying a book with no listening component. which, for a language where spoken and written forms diverge this much, is a serious problem.
Exercises Are Repetitive
Fill in the blank. Translate this sentence. Match the words. Repeat for 22 chapters. No creative production, no conversation prompts, no writing exercises that ask you to express your own thoughts. The exercises test whether you read the chapter, not whether you learned anything you can use.
The Persian Test: What I Learned From Chapters 1-3
After working through the first three chapters properly. reading every section, doing every exercise, spending about 6 hours total. here’s what I could do:
Read simple Persian sentences in script (slowly). Conjugate budan (to be) and dāshtan (to have) in present tense. Introduce myself in a way that would make an Iranian think I was reading from a legal document. Understand the ezafe construction. Not order food, not ask for directions, not have a single natural exchange.
The grammar stuck. The usability didn’t.
How It Compares to Other Farsi Textbooks
“Persian of Iran Today” (Anousha Sedighi) is better for learners who want both registers. it teaches formal and colloquial side by side. Thackston’s “An Introduction to Persian” is more rigorous academically but even drier. “Easy Persian” by Ahooie is simpler but covers far less ground.
Teach Yourself sits in the middle: more accessible than Thackston, less practical than Sedighi. It’s the Toyota Camry of Persian textbooks. reliable, boring, gets you from A to B if you don’t mind the scenic route taking twice as long.
| Feature | Teach Yourself | Persian of Iran Today | Thackston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Script from day 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Colloquial Persian | No | Yes (dual register) | No |
| Grammar depth | Good | Good | Excellent |
| Audio quality | Broken/missing | Decent | Minimal |
| Price | ~$25 | ~$50 | ~$45 |
| Self-study friendly | Yes | Moderate | No (needs teacher) |
| Category | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Script & Transliteration | 7/10 | Script from Chapter 1, good transliteration throughout |
| Grammar Explanations | 8/10 | Clear tables, logical progression, compound verbs well covered |
| Exercise Quality | 4/10 | Repetitive fill-in-the-blank, no creative production |
| Register Awareness | 2/10 | Formal written Persian only, zero colloquial |
| Durability/Progression | 6/10 | 22 chapters take you to B1 reading, but pace slows |
Who This Book Is For
University students who need a grammar reference. Self-studiers who already have a tutor or conversation partner for spoken Farsi and want something to explain the rules. Heritage speakers who can speak but want to learn to read and write properly.
It is not for someone whose goal is conversation. Not for travelers. Not for someone who wants to understand Iranian movies or talk to their in-laws.
The Verdict
Teach Yourself Complete Modern Persian is a grammar textbook that happens to be packaged as a self-study course. If you need grammar tables and structured explanations, it’s worth the $25. If you need to actually speak Persian, pair it with something that teaches the spoken language. Chai and Conversation for listening, or ZabanYar for vocabulary and alphabet.
ZabanYar covers what this book misses entirely: the Persian alphabet with mnemonics, adaptive SRS for vocabulary retention, and an AI tutor that uses colloquial forms. The book teaches you the grammar rules; ZabanYar helps you actually remember the words. Together, they’d be a strong combination. Alone, this book will leave you literate but mute.
For a broader look at your options, check the complete guide to Farsi learning resources or the best Farsi textbooks ranked.
For the complete picture, see our guide to all Farsi learning resources where we rank every option.