سخن سردبیر

We yet enjoy another opportunity to reach out to our readers and valued scholars through the new issue of our journal. We may confess that the appreciation of our previous issue and its articles among the respected professors and Persian language didactics experts from our domestic universities, as well practitioners in the field of instruction and expansion of Persian language, has exceeded our expectations. This has all been possible with the beneficence of the Almighty.
 
We begin our message in this issue by noting the fact that there has been an academic failure among the students of our domestic schools in the non-Persian speaking regions of the country, or witnessing the steps taken to weaken the Persian language in these regions, or the fact that the number of available seats for Persian language and literature courses in foreign universities have dramatically been reduced. This is because the Persian language has not yet been regarded as a young, nascent, independent interdisciplinary knowledge; development of the language and the development of its proud literature have been set par; the boundaries for science of applied linguistics and language didactics have not been set and their specializing and working fields have not been differentiated; in the domain of didactics there has been no discrimination between the three fields of first language, second language and foreign language; primary school Persian books that only cover the skills of reading and writing for native speaking children (first language) are used as course books for children in non-Persian speaking regions (second language) and are also often sent abroad as teaching source for non speaking adults (foreign language).
 
Hence, it is the hope of the participants in this journal to devise solutions, in such environment, for a scientific perception towards teaching of Persian language. Those genuinely concerned have reached the conclusion that such non-scientific approach and unsatisfactory performance in the context of teaching Persian language cannot practically contribute to the scientific enhancement and increasing the power of this language throughout the world, nor could we fulfill these instructions of our Supreme Leader, “We must strive for more and more circulation of Persian language in the world as well as its geographic enhancement so that this language may be in the position of its power”. It is our belief that through education and a deep understanding of the importance of Persian language and also by broadening the horizons of perception and utilizing new methods of instruction of Persian, the goals set for us by our leader for the spread of our language may be seriously pursued. Perhaps the most significant role in this path is of organizing bodies namely, Sa’di Foundation, Cultural Revolution High Commission, IRIB, Ministry of Education Science and Technology, Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Ministry of Education, Islamic Propagation Center, Center of Intellectual Development of Young Children and Iranology Foundation. These Organizations must work hard and remain active, as their counterparts in developing countries, in order to proceed in the path of merging the standards of the language within the country and expanding its boundaries outside Iran, so that the field of language didactics may be discriminated from other social sciences. It is also crucial for scientific centers and groups specializing in sub-branches of Persian language didactics to be established for carrying out basic researches. Also courses of Persian language didactics must be established with its three orientations of first language, second language and foreign language at Bachelor, Master's and Doctoral levels. The emerging science of Persian language didactics shall eventually carve out its own path even within these circumstances; hence it is better to witness this progress in all the abovementioned parts with a flawless planning and active participation of the officials.
 
We find it essential here to offer our appreciation for the efforts and valued guidance of scientific and assisting executives of Research Planning and Policymaking department of Ministry of Education, Science and Technology with special thanks to Miss Fariba Valizade and Dr. Faride Haghbeen for their guidance in improving the quality standards of the journal. I also announce thanks my fellow colleagues at Persian Language Center Dr. Bahador Sadeghi, Mr. Reza Saberi Fard, Mr. Ali Mohammadi Neek and Mr. Mohamamd Darveesh Ahad and Miss Zahrasadat Hosseini. Our deepest appreciations also lie with the executive assistant, Miss Zahara Akbarshahi for their punctual efforts in printing and publication of the journal.
 
In the end we should point out that with regard to the increasing submission of papers from scholars and researchers, this journal could never persist as the first scientific-research quarterly, without your valued submission of field and scientific research articles.
 
Amirreza Vakilifard, Editor-in-Chief