Search for introductory lessons in Farsi provided by publishers of language textbooks and CD-ROMs available on the Internet. Transparent Language's Before You Know It (BYKI) bundle allows users to download a free working copy of Before You Know It Lite. Its online portal provides not only foreign language tools but also a supportive community also learning Farsi. While many foreign language programs begin with grammar, BYKI helps adults learn Farsi by introducing them to common words and phrases, a process known as declarative learning. NASA and the Defense Language Institute use the BYKI system to teach language skills to their employees. RosettaStone is another prominent publisher that offers Farsi instruction; however, you will need to pay for its language tools.
Visit and join online communities that provide Farsi instruction at no cost. If you become a member of Livemocha, you can access its beginner Farsi module for free. Immerse yourself in introductory lessons, which provide lessons in nouns, adjectives, plurals, numbers, time, directions and grammar. The module is well structured and easy to navigate. Though Livemocha offers advanced active courses in a half dozen languages for a fee, it did not offer an active course in Farsi as of December 2010. Interact with other beginner students and practice your Farsi on Livemocha. Learn Persian also offers free Farsi instruction. It lists dozens of typical daily conversations in Farsi, translates them into English and provides supplementary audio. The site offers information on Iranian culture, including photo albums, poems by Rumi and lists of renowned Iranian scholars and scientists.
Scour online Farsi language resource pages that link to online instruction. For example, the Online Persian Language Learning Resource aggregates websites that pertain to Farsi. Sections on the site include Farsi lessons, textbooks, CD-ROMs, dictionaries and Farsi language schools in Europe, the United State and Iran. In addition, the website offers popular Iranian games and poetry.
Play with online dictionaries that translate English into Farsi. ECTACO offers free demo versions of English-Persian (Farsi) software for desktop and hand-held computers. Its software library ranges from flashcards to phrasebooks. Try its virtual keyboard (http://www.ectaco.com/virtual-keyboard/#20), which allows you to type Farsi script without having to download fonts. Select different letters and listen to them pronounced with an audio tool you can turn on or off.