Teacher Blends Kurdish and English Lessons for Children in Iran’s Mahabad

Teacher Blends Kurdish and English Lessons for Children in Iran’s Mahabad

In the Kurdish city of Mahabad in western Iran, a group of children dressed in colorful traditional clothing gather each week for English classes that offer much more than a foreign language lesson. Their teacher, Darya Talabani, combines English instruction with Kurdish language and cultural education, helping her students strengthen both their mother tongue and their confidence in learning.

Talabani said the foundation of her teaching method is the Kurdish language, which she believes is essential for children to understand the world around them. “Children first comprehend the world through their mother tongue,” she explained. “The mother language has an especially important role in forming human thought.”

Although she teaches English, Talabani also introduces Kurdish reading and writing skills, which many of her young students are eager to learn.

Students Gain Confidence in Kurdish and English

Kurdiya Jalili, who has been attending the class for a year, said the lessons have helped her make progress in both languages. “In English class, I can learn Kurdish and English,” she said. “I can form sentences, read, and speak fluently without fear.”

Another student, Rojman Khezrpour, shared his aspirations inspired by the program. “We have been learning Kurdish, English, and writing,” he said. “I come from Mahabad, and I would like to become an English teacher for both English and Kurdish.”

A Growing Educational Initiative in Rojhelat

Talabani teaches both in-person and online, enabling her to reach students outside her local community. So far, she has taught more than 500 children.

While Persian is Iran’s official language, the country is home to multiple ethnic groups with diverse linguistic traditions. In Kurdish-majority areas, known as Rojhelat, volunteers have increasingly opened centers to promote Kurdish language use and literacy, encouraging families to prioritize their mother tongue in daily life.

Legal Space for Regional Languages

Article 15 of Iran’s 1979 constitution states that Persian is the official language of the country, but it also allows for the use of regional and tribal languages in the media and for teaching their literature in schools. Despite this provision, Kurdish language education often relies on grassroots efforts like Talabani’s initiative.