...Authors Firoozeh Dumas and Mawi Asgedom tell the stories of their respective journeys as immigrant to America. Firoozeh uses description to describe her early years in America in Funny in Farsi while Asgedom uses personal reflection to explain what being an immigrant really meant in of Beetles and Angels. While both authors discuss valuable experiences, they use different strategies to convey their perspectives. In Funny in Farsi, Dumas focuses on her early life using description to show exactly what people asked and told about Dumas. Specifically, she tells about the misconceptions and questions Americans asked about her and Iran. Dumas directly states her perspective when she tells how the Americans asked their questions. To support this point, Dumas tells her readers that “Americans were kind and unafraid to ask questions, and willing to listen.” (149) The second strategy Dumas uses is an anecdote. Dumas says “I never told them the truth. I figured that someday, somebody would.” (152) Dumas is telling us about how older kids who wants to know how to swear in her language, but she tricked them into saying “man kharam”...
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...Funny in Farsi American Culture Response In the passage from Funny in Farsi, Firoozeh Dumas praises the benevolent nature of Americans towards immigrants. The Whittier Academy administration displayed compassion towards Dumas and her mother, despite their lack of knowledge surrounding American culture and the English language. The administration understandingly accommodates Dumas, and her mother’s needs as they, “had decided that it would be a good idea for [Dumas’s] mother to attend school with [Dumas] for a few weeks.” Through these actions, the school is presenting Dumas’s mother with a chance to learn about American culture, and the English Language. However, Dumas’s mother also acts as a safety net for Dumas. Considering Dumas...
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...Firoozeh Dumas’ novel Funny in Farsi tells the story of Firoozeh and her family’s many experiences in America, of all the characters in the memoir one of Firoozeh’s most influential and favorite family members is her father, Kazem. Throughout her life in America her father has stood out to her the most, even referring him as the “main character”(191). This Coat of Arms represents Kazem’s ambition and good luck in America, great love towards his family, and his generosity towards others. One of the first things noticeable in the Coat of Arms are elephant trunks/tusks, which represent “good luck and ambition” according to the family trees and crests website. Throughout the book Firoozeh includes tales by her father and how his incredible luck has allowed him to get a Fulbright grant, which let him study abroad in America. While he did not speak english his luck allowed him to make a Pakistani friend in which both of them bonded over food and their similar situation of not speaking...
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...“Does my Head Look Big in This” and “Funny in Farsi,” gives reader a glimpse into the real world of first and second generation Islamic Immigrants. DMHLBIT describes a Muslim Australian teens’ journey from childhood to adulthood. The plot begins when Eleventh grader, Randa, begins wearing the hijab full-time and follows the backlash from her family, school and crush. FIF is coming of age memoir that follows Fizoozeh Dumas in her journey from second grade immigrant into her interracial marriage. The memoir is written as short stories; these give reader a glimpse into the everyday struggles and joys of being a first generation immigrant. FIF and DMHLBIT debate inter growth to physical Growth while both show casing strong female character that...
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...Compute Applications in Language Studies ENGL 4740 HARNSSING DIFFERENT PLATFORMS IN CALL FOR FARSI LEARNING Name : Mahya Abolmasoomi Matric Number : 1021828 Date of submission : 2nd August, 2013 Submitted to : Mr. MazlanYusof INTRODUCTION In this day and age computers are used in every field including communication, business, broadcasting, education, etc. Lifestyles have drastically changed in the last few decades thanks to the emergence of the multimedia computer and the internet which have put language learners today in the integrative CALL phase. Today an abundance of software applications allow language learners of any language to enhance their four fundamental skills of language: speaking, writing, reading, and listening, at the same time developing their research and critical thinking abilities. These software applications can vary from CALL-specific software applications to generic ones. The point here is that there is an infinite number of ways to utilize different softwares in language learning. All it takes is creativity and determination. Warschauer mentioned that “The effectiveness of CALL cannot reside in the medium itself but only in how it is put to use.” What teachers and learners of language today must understand is that CALL does not necessarily involve CALL-specific softwares. There are four different types of CALL programs which are CALL-specific software, generic software, web-based learning programs, and computer-mediated communication...
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...Firoozeh Dumas said, “We remember the kindness more than ever, knowing that our relatives who immigrated to this country after the Iranian Revolution did not encounter the same America.” in her book Funny in Farsi. This shows how America changed and how the relationships between natural born citizens and immigrants had also changed over the years. After the revolution, some of Dumas's relatives visited America and they did not believe Americans were very kind. When Dumas and her family visited California, they were treated with kindness and generosity from most people. The Americans Dumas and her family met were continually asking questions about their homeland. After being in America for a while her family soon realized that America's image...
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...Funny in Farsi Synthesis Theoretical neuroscientist Jeff Hawkins once said: "In grade school, I was taught that the United States is a melting pot. People from all over the world come here for freedom and to pursue a better life. They arrive with next to nothing, work incredibly hard, learn a new language and new customs, and in a generation, they become an integral part of our amazing nation." Firoozeh Dumas' memoir, Funny in Farsi, Pat Mora's poem "Legal Alien,” Anand Giridharadas Ted Talk “A tale of two Americas. And the mini-mart where they collided” and Richard Crowson’s political cartoon, “Great American Melting Pot,” all explain the hardships that lie within becoming a full-fledged American citizen. Gaining your legal documented citizenship...
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...How would you feel if you traveled 7,239 miles from home at age seven? Leaving your home, language, and culture can be challenging between states let alone entire continents. Both Firoozeh and her family had to adapt at alarming rates. In the short story Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas, she highlights specific incidents in her life as a young girl to show that it is not easy being a foreigner in an unfamiliar country. A stretching problem throughout the entirety of the text is that Firoozeh’s family has little to no knowledge of the english language. For example, when Firoozeh is asked to show her complete knowledge of the english language, all she can say is a few colors, “...proudly recited all that I knew: “White, yellow, orange, red, purple, blue, green.” When enrolling in her new...
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...gaining by vieweing these peoples and nations through the lens of English? For instance how would reading a memoir in English about being an Iranian woman be dfferent from reading the same memoir in Farsi? ** Farsi: Offical language spoken in Iran Reading different cultures and study of other nations through books written in English could be challenging to readers if they are not aware of the author’s cultural frame of reference or social development, such as language, religion, tradition of family, community, cultural practices and the social context around them (Andersen and Taylor 9). The Author could use significant or metaphorical key factors or references in their literature, such as Germany in 1939 which represents for cold war, genocide or poverty that could be not easily understood or identified by readers who have insufficient historical or cultural understanding. As a result the reader could operate from an ethnocentric point of views, and fail to comprehend the core message. The reader could thereby miss out and fail to see new or other aspects in life such as how mankind still suffers under hidden discrimination, racism, nepotism, Nazism etc. For instance reading a memoir in English about being an Iranian woman could be different from reading the same memoir in Farsi because culture is symbolic. Symbols are things or behaviors to which people give meaning; the significance of culture lies in the meaning it holds for people (Andersen and Taylor 27). A language...
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...Christopher Cox Patricia Huhn English 121 20 February 2012 Education and Language Education and its effects on the individual is the primary focus of the essays by Richard Rodriguez, Leslie Silko, Firoozeh Dumas, and Gloria Anzaldua. Rodriquez’s “Achievement of Desire” illustrates how education can take the place of one’s cultural tradition in pursuit of knowledge. The loss of language is the focus of Silko’s speech, “Language and Literature from a Pueblo Indian Perspective”. “The F Word” by Firoozeh Dumas shows how profound words in one language can be funny in another, as well as hurtful. In “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldua, she talks about how the education system tried to remove her culture by taking away her language. The two authors take opposite views on education and how it directly affected their lives. While embracing education by becoming a scholarship boy, Rodriquez shows how his desire for knowledge overcame his families’ desire for cultural tradition. Anzaldua expresses her feelings about how education continually tried to forcefully remove her Spanish heritage. The term “scholarship boy” came from Richard Hoggart’s The Uses of Literacy and means that the student must move between two culturally extreme environments during their progression of education. In Rodriquez’s account of his early educational experiences, he demonstrates Hoggart’s core definition of being a scholarship boy to the tee. While finishing his dissertation...
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...facing a very difficult challenge. I would like to be part of your team to have straight forward interaction with different types of people. Perhaps I should say I do have faith in myself to be successful, because of my passion toward giving hope, love, happiness and attention to others. I understand completely, the importance and value of guest satisfaction in any situation. I also would like to inform you that I am a Healthcare Professional student, who would like to take steps forward in these responsibilities by offering: • New but motivated in Healthcare field. • At least 6 years experience in team leader and cash handling. • 6 years experience in customer service. • Excellent ability in verbal and written communication in Farsi (Persian) beside English. • Able to operate computer including Microsoft Office. • Highly interested in learning and moving forward. • Flexible in any upcoming events and changes. • Passionate and fair in the work place. • Excellent understanding about different cultures and personalities. • Able to work without supervision. I would like to speak with you in person more about my background, passion and your organization. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely Dear Hiring manager: I can be described as a dependable, reliable, and motivated person, who always loves to experience new opportunities in life. It is hard for me to give up on anything, even though I may be facing a very difficult challenge. I would...
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...that I wanted to succeed and be judged based on my character, integrity, and substance. I recognized through my friendship with David that true leadership requires character, and that developing and maintaining character takes grit and persistence. David taught me that gaining success in a capitalistic society is not a right but a responsibility and that it is possible to possess a tough-minded business sense and great humanity simultaneously. During all the years that I witnessed David's ascent in the business world, he never stopped working to achieve success, and I have adopted the same drive. Everyone has dreams, but I have learned to do the groundwork that will make my dreams into realities. I am multilingual, speaking English and Farsi, and I am in the process of learning additional languages-Spanish, Arabic, Hebrew, and German-that will allow me to communicate with an even wider audience. Like David, I do whatever I can to stay at the top and remain competitive, and although life is not perfect, I rarely take "no" for an answer. My optimism and the fire in my belly have fueled my drive to press for success, even in uncharted waters.Farm CEO Gary Hirshberg put it, "The most undervalued asset in entrepreneurship is determination," and I had finally made the determination to pursue the education necessary to under gird my future business plans. David is not...
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...Eqbal Mohammad Cleared Linguist with CI Polygraph 10429 Rapidan Lane Manassas, VA 20109 Cell: 571-839-1523 meqbal30@gmail.com ------------------------------------------------- Profile More than 9 years of experience in translation , interpretation and Linguist management for Senior U.S Military Personnel and Afghan National Security Forces in Afghanistan which included translation of hundreds of documents and simultaneous and near simultaneous interpretation of dozens of Senior Leader Seminars for Afghan military and civilian officials hosted by U.S military. In addition, I have managed and supervised more than 75 linguists supporting Operations Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. More than 2 years of experience instructing Dari and Pashto languages including a working knowledge of Afghan Culture to the U.S. military in U.S. ------------------------------------------------- WORK EXPERIENCE Dari/Pashto Linguist/Translator Feb.2011-Jun-2014 Mission Essential Personnel LLC.| Afghanistan. * Translated hundreds of projects from Dari to English and vice versa. * Translated military, medical, legal and Afghan Government documents from Dari to English and vice versa * Edited translated documents from Dari to English and vice versa. * Translated/Interpreted for U.S army during Detainees Operation in Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan. Dari Instructor Jan.2009-Feb.2011 American Federal Contractor, (A.F.C) Fort Polk, La, USA * Provided professional...
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...region of present-day Iran. They have formerly been part of the so-called Khamseh confederation. The areas that the Basseri migrate in are the steep mountains of South, East and North Shiraz. Due to their Pastoralist nature, there is no structure Basseri tribe follow in regards to their social and economic activities. There are several norms that play a key role in the different aspects of the tribe’s (existence, being, day to day life). II. Body Paragraph (Political Organization) –The Basseri are a clearly delineated group, defined as like most groups in the area by political rather than by ethnic or geographical criteria. The Basseri speak a dialect of Farsi. The majority knows only the Basseri dialect, but a few also speak Turkish or Arabic. Most of the groups with which the Basseri come in contact speak Farsi, Turkish, or Arabic. Some of these groups claim a common or collateral ancestral link with the Basseri. Many people among the settled populations in southern Iran claim to have Basseri origins. There are also other nomadic groups namely the Yazd-e-Khast, the Bugard-Basseri, and the Basseri near Semnan east of Tehran who is believed to be genetically connected with the Basseri of Fārs. III. Body Paragraph (Economic Organization) - The Basseri pastoral economy is supported by essential, extensive pastures. However, these pastures cannot continuously support flocks their flocks year-round. Pastures are utilized by different Basseri groups in succession along...
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...played a large part in the construction of the conceptual differences between gender and sexuality in the West; in Najmabadi’s own words, “Iran has not been shaped by such developments.” Thus, “transgender” has a different definition in an Iranian context. Anglo-American definitions of “transgender” often involves an individual whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned. Iranian definitions of as much, on the other hand, vary. For instance, Iranians tend to use the term “transsexual” as a referent for both transgender and transsexual members of society. This has a great deal to do with the gender ambiguity within Farsi. Unlike English, Farsi does not have gendered pronouns, making distinctions between gender even more ambiguous. Such ambiguity can provide issues when it comes to English subtitles referring to spoken Farsi, trans individuals often being misgendered in the text, most likely due to the assumption that they would have been misgendered had the original language integrated pronouns. Therefore, the imposition of Western linguistic conventions in such a scenario already reflects the errors that can stem from placing Western constructions of gender and sexuality onto Iranian life—errors which, in this case, seem to assume an inherent transphobia and demonization in Iranian society. These errors, as well as others, can be seen in a litany of Western representations of the trans Iranian community. The discussion on Western representations of the Iranian...
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