چكيده لاتين
Abstract
Language educators often prioritize linguistic aspects when teaching Persian to non-native speakers, with insufficient attention given to literature. However, literature, as a complementary tool, can be highly effective in language education and can also help learners enhance their linguistic, cultural, and social skills. Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh is one of the most distinguished works in Persian literature, containing historical, cultural, literary, mythological, heroic, and epic elements. The significance of this work extends beyond the borders of Iran and has consistently attracted scholars, orientalists, and literary figures worldwide. Therefore, given the esteemed position of this work, Shahnameh should also be considered in Persian language instruction as a superior literary piece with vast cultural capacities. In this regard, this study aims to utilize this literary masterpiece to teach Persian to non-native speakers through a task-based approach, focusing on epic elements—including expressions, heroic concepts, symbols, rituals, religious practices, and generally the epic features found in the two stories, "Zal and Rudabeh" and "Rostam and Esfandiyar." This research was conducted as a field study, evaluating the effectiveness of the task-based approach in teaching Shahnameh. A group of ten language learners of different nationalities participated in the study. Their literary and linguistic knowledge was assessed before and after learning the two epic stories, "Zal and Rudabeh" and "Rostam and Esfandiyar," through a questionnaire. The statistical data and results—analyzed using the SPSS tool—demonstrate that the task-based approach is effective and efficient in teaching Persian to non-native speakers through the selected Shahnameh stories.
Keywords: Ferdowsi, Shahnameh, Zal and Rudabeh, Rostam and Esfandiar, Teaching Persian to non-Persian speakers, Task-oriented
