This textbook offers a thematically-organized approach to the Dari language for beginning students. The book emphasizes task-oriented, communicative activities that develop the four language skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing). It introduces learners to both colloquial and standard forms. The topics discussed are of importance to language learners as well as to business people and government officials. The textbook prepares learners to perform at level 1+ or 2 on the ILR scale and at the novice high/intermediate low level on the ACTFL scale. Dari belongs to the Iranian group of Indo-European languages. Along with Farsi and Tajiki, it is one of the three main Persian dialects. Dari is the most-used language in Afghanistan; all official documents are written in the language. It is, with Pashto, one of the two official languages of the country. Dari has more than 40 million speakers worldwide. Large communities of native speakers reside in Iran and Tajikistan and throughout Central and South Asia.

Includes index.

Chapter 1. An introduction to Dari -- Lesson 1 : what is your name? -- Lesson 2 : where are you from? -- Lesson 3 : who is he/she? -- Chapter 2. What is your phone number? -- Lesson 1 : let's count in Dari -- Lesson 2 : what's your phone number? -- Lesson 3 : who is this woman? -- Chapter 3. Greetings and introductions -- Lesson 1 : greetings -- Lesson 2 : introducing yourself and others -- Lesson 3 : where do you live? -- Chapter 4. In the classroom -- Lesson 1 : what is in our classroom? -- Lesson 2 : where is my book? -- Lesson 3 : what do we do in the classroom? -- Chapter 5. What do you do everyday? -- Lesson 1 : what time is it? -- Lesson 2 : what time do you wake up? -- Lesson 3 : what do you do on weekends? -- Chapter 6. My family -- Lesson 1: I am the oldest child in my family -- Lesson 2 : my cousin is taller than me -- Lesson 3 : I am married -- Chapter 7. My residence -- Lesson 1 : I live in an apartment -- Lesson 2 : Kabul University campus -- Lesson 3 : what is your home address? -- Chapter 8. At the bazaar -- Lesson 1 : I want to buy groceries -- Lesson 2 : let's go to the restaurant -- Lesson 3 : she has bought a black shirt -- Chapter 9. Summer vacations -- Lesson 1 : how is the weather? -- Lesson 2 : booking a ticket for summer vacation -- Lesson 3 : reserving a room at a hotel -- Chapter 10. During my break -- Lesson 1 : yesterday, I arrived at my hotel -- Lesson 2 : I got sick on the third day of my vacation -- Lesson 3 : tomorrow, we will go back to Kabul -- Appendices -- Appendix A : answer key -- Appendix B : transcripts -- Appendix C : Dari phrases -- Appendix D : Persian phrases -- Appendix E : Dari-English glossary -- Appendix F : English-Dari glossary.