The first of 10 volumes of a basic course in Persian is presented that is designed for use in the Defense Language Institute's intensive programs. The course, employing the audiolingual methodology, is designed to train native English speakers to level three proficiency in comprehension and speaking and level two proficiency in reading and writing Persian. A guide to Persian pronunication and a drill on various Persian sounds is presented. A section on vocabulary provides for each word a transcription of the word with symbols adopted from "Webster's Collegiate Dictionary," the meaning of the word in English, and the word in the Persian alphabet. Each of the 18 lessons contains the following: (1) a cartoon guide, (2) dialogue in Persian, (3) idiomatic translation of the dialogue into English, (4) recombination in Persian, (5) drill blocks in Persian, and (6) questions in Persian. Tapes accompany the texts. (SW)