Having  travelled to Iran in 2013, I knew I would want to return, so when I found that Persian language was offered at ANU I decided to take it up. Iran’s geopolitical significance to the wider Middle East and potential for greater engagement with the West provided additional incentive to study the language.

The focus of my degree is international security issues so it has been very helpful that I have been able to take a number of courses at CAIS which have allowed me to learn about the Middle East and Central Asia. Studying Persian is something which is both enjoyable and complements my degree. Given the significance of Iran and Afghanistan to various ongoing security issues, speaking the language will prove useful while working in the field in the future.

Being enrolled in Persian at CAIS gave me the opportunity to study an intensive Persian language course in Iran in 2015. I was immersed in the language from the moment I arrived. For somebody who had begun studying the language less than six months earlier, it was a steep learning curve but a beneficial one. In addition to classes, excursions to historical sites and other attractions were included in the trip. These activities were not only great for learning the language, but also to gain insight into the contemporary culture.