Funny in Farsi Read article about the Nacirema Tribe

• Read aloud – one person reads to group, or take turns reading

• Circle words you don’t know• Underline rituals and rites that seem bizarre

to you

Nacirema

Language Barriers

Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas

Map of Iran

Quick Facts Located in the Middle East between

Iraq on the West, and Pakistan and Afghanistan on the East.

Also called Persia Has large reserves of Petroleum and

Natural Gas Main religion is Shia Islam Main language is Persian, though in

Iran they refer to it as Farsi

Whittier, California

So, how far is that?

7,588 miles

What kind of differences would Firoozeh have experienced between her life in Iran and

her life in California?

Firoozeh’s Family Tree

Farid Farshid 14

Firoozeh7

FatherKazem

Mother

Discussion Questions The theme of Funny in Farsi is “shared humanity.” What

does that mean to you?

How would our communities, both locally and globally, be different if we saw our commonalities before our differences?

Most Americans’ perception of the Middle East is limited to what is shown on the evening news. Since only bad news is news, how does this affect the perception of Middle Eastern immigrants in this country?

Minorities often do not try to be a part of American society, preferring instead to spend time with others who are like themselves. What can be done to encourage assimilation?

Should immigrants speak their native language at home?

Characteristics of a Memoir

Based on a true life story Is a first-person story or narrative Includes author’s thoughts and

feelings Includes a moral lesson or something

to learn Includes the writer’s opinions Includes imagery and other

descriptive language Has a conversational tone

Talking About Style Why a memoir and not make it a novel?

In what ways does memoir move beyond personal narrative?  Why does memoir enhance self-reflection?

What past events helped shape the person you are? What makes a life event a memoir-worthy experience?

What kind of literary devices and themes would authors use to create a memoir?

Why does the author use humor to tell her stories?

How are universal human experiences exhibited in contemporary literature?

How does the literature people create reflect their culture?

Process: Annotating1. Read2. Read again! Underline the following info:

(YOU MUST COMMENT ON/LABEL IN THE MARGINS)

Unfamiliar words & references (?)Characters, setting, plot points (C/S/P)Funny moments ()Make connections between events & you,

other texts/media, & the world (*)General things that stick out at you (!)

3. Complete the worksheet

Roundtable Discussions

Get into your groups Take out your chapter work You will take turns telling your group members

about your chapters, going through the Chapter Close Reading Sheet answers (all of it, even though the group sheet only asks for plot points and a connection) – chronologically (some groups will have two members with the same chapter – both members should share)

While one member is talking, have the next member fill in the group summary sheet, so each member is taking a turn doing some writing.

Once you are finished, you must hand all work in with names on it.