Dear Students,

As we prepare to begin a new school year, on behalf of the ICEC administration, the instructional staff, and myself, I would like to welcome you and wish you a very successful and rewarding academic year. We are excited to see so many of you who will be returning this year and to have the opportunity to greet and to know many new students who will be joining us for the first time. As always, our goal is to help you make the most of the instructional time by having an in-depth understanding of the Iranian cultural heritage and by gaining proficiency in the language in an engaging and learner-centered environment. The fact that you are spending part of your Saturdays participating in our classes is a reflection of your commitment to achieving this goal. Your enthusiasm and love of learning are crucial in preserving our cultural heritage and language.

As part of our ongoing efforts to achieve our common goal more effectively, last year made some changes to the way we would be communicating with you throughout the year. Now, through the enhanced ICEC website, you will be able to communicate with your instructors and access lessons, homework assignments and projects online. Your instructors will provide you with more information. We will also make every effort to differentiate the instruction based on proficiency levels to maximize learning. As part of this effort, the posted weekly “Can-Do” statements and ongoing formative assessments will allow you to better measure your own progress throughout the year. As the year goes on, we will review, reflect and readjust the instructional strategies to better meet your needs.