ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A group of children dressing in colorful Kurdish clothing attend English language classes in Iran's western Kurdish city of Mahabad, to learn the language and much more.
Their teacher, Darya Talabani, blends English lessons with Kurdish language and culture, helping young students strengthen both their mother tongue and a foreign language.
Talabani told Rudaw that she prioritizes Kurdish as the foundation for learning.
“Children first comprehend the world through their mother tongue,” Talabani said, noting that she uses Kurdish to build understanding before introducing English. “The mother language has an especially important role in forming human thought.”
Although she is an English teacher, Talabani also teaches children how to read and write in Kurdish, a skill many say they are eager to learn.
Kurdiya Jalili, a student, said she has been attending the class for a year.
“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, said he hopes to become a language teacher in the future.