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It’s not hard to see why someone (yes, you) would want to learn Farsi.
Known to the English-speaking world as Persian, Farsi is one of the most widely-spoken Indo-Iranian languages (along with Hindi and Bengali). It’s also a beautiful language used in some of the world’s most important literary pieces such as the Rubaiyat, Shahnameh, and the works of Rumi.
For both practical and recreational purposes, learning Farsi is a decision you should be proud of.
However, if you’re looking to get started by taking a Babbel Farsi course, you’ll have to look for options. There’s no Farsi on Babbel, at least not yet. But you can get your hands on Babbel alternatives that can help you master Farsi anytime, anywhere.
A note on Persian vs. Farsi: Persian is the English translation of Farsi. However, both words are used interchangeably by the English-speaking world.
What is Babbel?
But first, what is Babbel?
My review of Babbel is just one of the many glowing reviews this bestselling app has. Thanks to its holistic approach, it has become one of the most popular language learning apps today.
The way Babbel works is pretty straightforward. It features a variety of exercises that train your reading, writing (or spelling), listening, and speaking skills. You’ll fill in the blanks with the right words or letters, match pictures to words, and repeat what you hear.
Babbel’s listening and speaking drills are of top caliber. The app uses the voices of native speakers, giving courses the authenticity that not all apps have. Combine this with real-life vocabulary and digestible grammar cues, and you get one useful app.
However, as mentioned earlier, Babbel doesn’t have Farsi on its list of courses. It is just one of the many languages that are missing on the app because as of writing, Babbel only offers 14 courses.
The best Babbel alternatives
Here’s some good news though: there are plenty of apps to learn Farsi. From apps that offer various gamified exercises to apps that help you to speak Persian, you’ve got lots of options. Let’s start with the three that are highly recommended:
1. Mondly
One of the apps that resembles Babbel’s structure, Mondly has mastered the art of teaching languages through immersive exercises and conversational practice.
Mondly teaches core Persian vocab and grammar through quizzes and challenges that are anything but boring. You can even practice with a chatbot to improve your speaking skills and comprehension. These features, plus a new lesson every day, come with a free account.
It’s worth upgrading to a premium account, however, not just for the complete access to all the lessons but for the additional features too. For instance, you get instant feedback on your pronunciation, more vocabulary sections, and conjugation tables. To know more, check out my review of Mondly.
Want to try Mondly for yourself? Check out the latest promos here!
Key features:
- Short and effective lessons that improve core skills
- Exercises that teach relevant vocabulary
- Lots of conversation practice
2. Pimsleur
Try Pimsleur Persian for FREE today
Learning Persian expressions is one thing, knowing how to say them is another. For many learners, fluency in Farsi means you can engage in conversations comfortably. To get there, consider using Pimsleur.
Pimsleur is an audio-based app and learning method that trains you to be conversational in the shortest time possible. Through 30-minute core audio lessons, you’ll learn essential Farsi words and phrases in the correct pronunciation and accents.
Apart from the narrator/instructor’s English directions, all Farsi expressions on Pimsleur use the voices of native Farsi speakers. What’s more, these expressions are repeated to you in optimal intervals to make sure you remember them. This authenticity and repetition system makes Pimsleur one of the most effective apps out there.
Learn more about Pimsleur in this review.
Key features:
- Audio-based lessons that get you speaking right away
- Learn correct pronunciation and accents from native speakers
- Helps build useful Persian vocabulary
3. Ling App
Whether you’re a newcomer or an advanced learner, learning Farsi on Ling will be enjoyable.
Like Mondly, Ling’s Persian course features lessons that don’t feel like you’re studying. These gamified lessons include puzzles, fill-in-the-blank dialogues, stress-free speaking drills, and even grammar notes. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself hooked and greatly improving your Persian knowledge.
My favorite feature of Ling is its writing lessons. Learning how to write and read the Persian alphabet is not easy, but it’s an essential part of building a strong foundation in the language. Ling’s writing lessons not only demonstrate how to write the characters but also allow you to practice by tracing them on the screen. Cool, right?
This comprehensive review of Ling has all the deets. But if you need more convincing, why not try Ling for free?
Key features:
- Fun exercises for learners of all levels
- Grammar notes with practical examples
- Audio from native speakers
Other great resources to learn Farsi
Mondly, Pimsleur, and Ling are excellent apps for learning Farsi. But on the off chance that you don’t find them suitable (or maybe you just want more options), you can explore other resources to learn Farsi — from apps and books to online tutors and even movies!
Preply: This platform connects you to expert Persian tutors who specialize on beginner and intensive courses, Persian for children, and conversational Persian. Find one that matches you and see yourself grow more conversational as you go! Tutors charge $15/hour on average but you can find discounts here.
Cudoo: For self-paced lessons covering the essentials, Cudoo’s three-level course is great. Learn important expressions and proper pronunciation, and develop confidence in how to communicate with Farsi speakers.
Mango Languages: This program offers a fun, conversation-based approach to Farsi. It uses real-life dialogues, native speaker audio, and a “building-block” method to teach grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary. You also get helpful cultural notes.
italki: Become fluent quickly by getting private coaching and feedback from Farsi tutors. Italki connects you with professional teachers and community tutors who offer customized lessons at rates that you can afford. You can take trial lessons first to find a tutor that can meet your needs.
Rosetta Stone: This popular language learning program uses an immersion method for Farsi, focusing on visual cues and native audio without relying on English translations. This helps you figure out patterns and build language intuition. Plus, its speech recognition tech gives you immediate feedback to nail that pronunciation!
Colloquial Persian: This beginner-friendly book provides a step-by-step approach to written and spoken Persian. Methodical and thorough, this textbook contains vocab and jargon-free grammatical explanations, a wide range of exercises for self-learners, and bilingual glossaries.
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Learn Persian – Farsi Step by Step: This interactive and colorful eBook includes professional audio recordings, an easy-to-follow grammar guide, short dialogues, and challenging exercises. It also details the differences between written and spoken Farsi.
Udemy: For self-paced Farsi video courses taught by independent instructors, look no further. Udemy lets you choose from classes covering beginner basics like the alphabet, all the way up to advanced conversation, slang, and poetry. It’s a great spot to find a structured, one-time purchase course tailored to your specific learning goal.
Easy Persian: One of the best free resources for Farsi learners, this website offers hundreds of lessons on reading and writing, Persian grammar, vocabulary, slang, Persian poetry, music, and more. You don’t even have to sign up, just click a lesson and start learning.
Talkpal: This AI-powered app focuses on real conversation practice to build Farsi fluency. It offers various interactive modes like Chat, Roleplays, and even audio-only ‘Call Mode’ with an AI tutor, giving you instant pronunciation and grammar feedback.
Persian Learning: Majid is a native Persian speaker who teaches spoken Persian. Lessons cater to learners of all levels but his beginner videos are particularly popular. His videos touch on Persian words and phrases, short stories, Farsi conversations, poetry, and more.
Netflix, Apple TV, and other streaming services: Why not take this chance to learn the Persian language while exploring the wonderful world of Iranian cinema? For specific titles, you can check out A Separation, About Elly, Taste of Cherry, and The Cow. Make sure to listen to the original audio for listening practice.
Conclusion
The lack of a Babbel Farsi course shouldn’t hinder you from learning this beautiful language. As you’ve seen above, you’re not short of options for learning Persian.
Wherever you are in your learning journey, these apps and additional resources can help you improve your Persian language skills. Stay on track and you’ll reach fluency in no time.