Farsi is the language of Iran or the Persian civilization and one of many languages offered by MSU’s Less Commonly Taught Languages program.

Although Roushangar, who is of Iranian and Egyptian descent, enrolled in Farsi to learn to speak the language of his heritage, he said he is happy it will lead him to more opportunities.

“I am Iranian … but I don’t speak it. … And now, I am very excited and am looking forward to this new language,” Roushangar said.

Danielle Steider, the program coordinator, said there currently are 134 students enrolled in the various courses, featuring languages such as Turkish, Hindi, Korean and Ojibwe.

Steider said the majority of the courses are funded by a grant from the federal government because of the “critical need” for people who speak these languages in the global context of the world.

“A lot of people have no language, (or) a lot of people have Spanish, French or German — all very important languages,” Steider said. “But how may people have Thai? … It will make people say ‘Oh, Thai? That’s interesting,’ and then (employers) look a little closer.”

Baburhan Uzum, a Turkish instructor, said although his class consists of 11 students, he is pleased they have shown enthusiasm for the course.

“It’s really refreshing to me to hear students are wanting to learn about another culture,” Uzum said. “And the reason (some) choose (Turkish is) they (might) have been there and are really impressed by the culture or people, and they want to spend more time on it.”

The program’s languages can help students become more internationally in tune when it comes to world events and the exchange of ideas, Steider said.

Roushangar said this is a reason students should immerse themselves in other cultures.
“(Students) should experience the world and (should explore) the other people (overseas),” Roushangar said.