Overview
Leila brings a deep passion for Persian culture and language to her role as Course Developer & Instructor. With a PhD from The University of Tehran and 9 years of teaching experience at italki, she is an expert in crafting engaging and effective learning experiences.
Driven by a belief in Persian’s rich literary heritage and global beauty, Leila authored textbooks now used in teaching centers worldwide. Her research background in linguistics further cements her expertise. She finds immense joy in fostering connections through language, welcoming you to embark on a captivating journey into the world of Persian.
Education
- Ph.D. in Persian Language and Literature, University of Tehran (2007-2013).
– Dissertation Title: The Rhetoric of Syntactic Structures in the History of Beyhaghi, supervised by Professor Mohammad-Reza Shafiei Kadkani.
– Award received: Fathollah Mojtabaei Award for the best doctoral dissertation in the fields of Persian language and literature, religions and mysticism (2013).
- M.A. in Persian Language and Literature, Allameh Tabataba’i University (2005-2007).
– Thesis Title: A study on some portions of Ahmad Shamlou’s Poetry Based on Functional Grammar Stylistics, supervised by Dr. Ahmad Tamimdari.
- B.A. in Persian language and Literature, University of Tehran (2001-2005).
Awards
- Iranian Literary Award (Jalal Al-e Ahmad Literary Award) in the “literary criticism” category, (2018), for The Rhetoric of Syntactic Structures in Tarikhe Beyhaghi.
- The 36th annual Iran’s Book of the Year Award for the Best book in the literary criticism category (2018), for The Rhetoric of Syntactic Structures in Tarikhe Beyhaghi.
- Fathollah Mojtabaei Award for the best doctoral dissertation in the fields of Persian language and literature, religions and mysticism (2013).
Teaching Experience
- Online Persian Teacher, italki (Jan 2015 – Present).
– Delivered more than 3,900 private lessons to a diverse population of international students, and developed strategies for responding effectively to a wide range of student’s abilities and needs.
- Persian as a Second Language Lecturer, Shahid Beheshti University (Nov 2018 – June 2019).
– Designed and taught introductory Persian literature to non-Persian-major undergraduate students, including the introduction to history and evolution of Persian language and literature, developing reading and comprehension skills.
- Lecturer, University of Kashan (Feb 2014 – June 2015).
– Designed and taught introductory Persian literature, and core academic subjects including rhetoric, prose: Kelileh va Demneh, history of literature3: from Mughals to Safavids.
– Utilized a course blog to encourage informal discussions of reading material outside of class.
– Engaged students in final semester projects (individual and group-work).- Engaged students in oral presentations.
- Lecturer, Iran University of Medical Sciences (Feb 2008 – Jan 2015).
- Teacher, Manzoumeh Kherad Institute (Nov 2008 – June 2014).
– Designed and taught Persian language and literature as well as composition and creative writing courses for middle school students.
– Used Moodle online management learning platform to organize content and communicate with students outside of class and to encourage clarity and transparency.
– Received an appreciation letter from the CEO of the Institute for effective use of modern teaching methods and Moodle.
Lectures and Workshops
- “Research method in balagha studies in the History of Beyhaqi”, Shahid Beheshti University, the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, the Department of Persian Language and Literature. 12.5.2019, (Invited by Dr. Mohammad Ragheb).
- “The Rhetoric of Syntactic Structures” for candidates of Iranian Literature Olympiad, hosted in Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University. 11.8.2019, (Invited by Dr. Mohammad Ragheb).
- “The Poetics of Taqdim and Ta’khir (Preposing and Postposing) in medieval Persian prose: Beyhaqi’s History as a case study”, international conference for Post-Eurocentric Poetics: new approaches from Arabic, Turkish and Persian Literature, The Center for Arts and Humanities (CAH) at the American University of Beirut, 21-22 May 2018.
- “Description of Word Order in Free Verse”, The 9th Iranian Conference on Linguistics, Allameh Tabataba’i University, 2014.
- “Conservatism in Syntax of Tarikhe Beyhaghi”, The 3rd Conference on Linguistics and Interdisciplinary study: Social and Cultural Study, Alzahra University, 2013.
- Lecture on “Rhetoric of the History of Beyhaqi“, Cultural Center of Book City, Tehran, 2013, (Invited by Dr. Ali-Asghar Mohammad-Khani).
Peer Reviews & Contribution to Projects
- Providing Consultation to Global Literary Theory, University of Birmingham (directed by Professor Rebecca Gould), 2018-Present
- Providing peer-review services to Journal of Persian Literature (University of Tehran) and History of Literature Quarterly (Shahid Beheshti University), Literary Criticism Quarterly (Tarbiat Modares University), 2015-Present
- Authored entries for “Persian language & literature in Indian subcontinent” encyclopedia, directed by Dr. Ali- Mohammad Mo’azeni, 2007
- Collaboration in electronic Persian literature library project, directed by Dr. Mostafa Moosavi, 2002-2003
Books
Books & Peer-Reviewed Invited Chapters
- SeyedGhasem, Leila, “The Poetic of Preposing and Postposing: Taqdīm and Ta’khīr in The History of Beyhaqī,” in Post-Eurocentric Poetics: New Approaches from Arabic, Persian and Turkic Literary Theory, edited by Hany Rashwan, Rebecca Ruth Gould and Nasrin Askari, (Oxford: Oxford University Press) Proceedings of the British Academy book series. Based on the AUB (American University of Beirut) conference. [forthcoming]
- SeyedGhasem, Leila, “Dastur al- Afazel fi Loghat al- Fazael; The Second Persian Dictionary in India,”in Persian Lexicography in Indian Subcontinent, Edited by: Mohammad-Reza Nasiri, Tehran: Persian Language and Literature Academy, [forthcoming]
- SeyedGhasem, Leila, 2017, The Rhetoric of Syntactic Structures in Tarikhe Beyhaghi, Tehran: Hermes Publications.
Book Series (Teaching Persian to Foreigners)
- SeyedGhasem, Leila. 2006. Dr. Mohammad Moin. Iran Language Institute Publication.
- SeyedGhasem, Leila. 2005. Deserts of Iran. Iran Language Institute Publication.
- SeyedGhasem, Leila. 2005. Sa’di. Iran Language Institute Publication.
- SeyedGhasem, Leila. 2004. Mosques of Iran. Iran Language Institute Publication.
- SeyedGhasem, Leila. 2003. Damavand. Iran Language Institute Publication.
Articles
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- SeyedGhasem, Leila, and Rebecca Gould, “Khāqānī Studies in Iran: From Dar-al Funun to after the Iran-Iraq War”, [final draft]
- SeyedGhasem, Leila, and Hany Rashwan “Rediscovering the forgotten Indo-Persian resources on Arabic balāghah: Bilgramī’s Subhat al-marjān fī athār Hindustān (The Coral Rosary of Indian Traditions) as a case study,” To be submitted for Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East, [under preparation]
- SeyedGhasem, Leila, and Hamideh Noohpisheh, 2016, “Literary Geography and Its Branches: An Introduction to a New Interdisciplinary Field in Literature Study,” Literary Criticism Quarterly.
- Noohpisheh, Hamideh, and Leila SeyedGhasem, 2015, “Rhetorical Application of Antithesis and its Companionship with Other Artistic Devices in Ghazals of Sa’di,” History of Literature Quarterly 76/3.
- SeyedGhasem, Leila, and Hamideh Noohpisheh, 2014, “Discourse Function of Sentences Mood in Tarikh-e Beyhaqi,” Journal of Humanities and Social Studies, Research in Persian Language & Literature.
- SeyedGhasem, Leila, and Rouhollah Hadi, 2014, “The Equivalences between Ideas of Abd al-Qahir al-Jurjani and Pragmatism and Systemic Functional Linguistics,” The University of Guilan, Adab Pazhuhi Quarterly, 8 (2).
- SeyedGhasem, Leila, 2014, “Criticism of the History of Beyhaghi Manuscripts Applying Word Order and Felicity Conditions,” Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Literary Studies Quarterly, 46 (183).
- SeyedGhasem, Leila, 2013, “Rhetorical Function of Word Order in the History of Beyhaqi,” Literary Criticism Quarterly, 6 (24).
- Mousavi, Mostafa, Hamideh Noohpisheh, and Leila SeyedGhasem, 2012, “References of Golestan_e Sa’di in Arabic Allegories and Maxims,”. University of Tehran, Arabic Literature Quarterly, 3 (3).
Other Articles
- SeyedGhasem, Leila, and Hamideh Noohpisheh, 2014, “Description of Word Order in Free Verse, Allameh Tabataba’i University”, following the 9th Iranian Conference on Linguistics.
- Noohpisheh, Hamideh, Leila SeyedGhasem, and Abolfazl Ahani, 2014, “Cultural-Literary Map of Tehran“. Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, following the International Scientific-Strategic Conference on Tourism Development for Islamic Republic of Iran: Challenges & Prospects.
- Hadi, Rouhollah, and SeyedGhasem, Leila, 2013, “The Equivalences between Ideas of Abd al-Qahir al-Jurjani and Structural Linguistics and the New Criticism,” Semnan University, Journal of Linguistic and Rhetorical Studies.
- SeyedGhasem, Leila, and Hamideh Noohpisheh, 2013, “Representation of Conservatism in Syntactic Structures of the History of Beyhaqi,” Alzahra University, followingthe 3rd Conference on Linguistics and Interdisciplinary study: Social and Cultural Study.
Languages
- Persian: Mother tongue
- English: Fluent
- Arabic: Fluent in reading classical Arabic