University of Oxford

Graduate Student, Oriental Studies

Doctor of Philosopy Candidate in Iranian studies and teacher of Persian (Farsi) Language

St Antony's

About

Mohammadjavad Ardalan: www.ardalanonline.com
D.phil candidate of Oxford University and teacher in Persian (Farsi) Language.

1- Education
October 2007 up to now: Doctor of Philosophy candidate (D.Phil) in Oriental studies, St Antony’s College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- October 2004- September 2007: Master’s degree in history of Iran, Department of History, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Tehran.
- October 2000- September 2004: Bachelor’s degree in History of Islam, Department of Islamic History, Faculty of Islamic Science (Sciences of Quran and Hadith), University of Islamic Mazahib, Tehran, Iran.
- October 1996- September 2000:  Shiraz Islamic Seminary School (4 years Islamic cleric educational program), Shiraz, Iran. 

2- Honours and distinctions
In 2004, I achieved the First rank in National Iranian Master’s Students Competition (more than 3000 competitors) in three fields: History of ancient Iran, history of Islam, history of Islamic Iran. Simultaneously, I achieved the second rank in four other fields: Historical Persian studies, general Persian studies, cultural Persian studies and world history. Following these, I was accepted as the First rank student in my master’s program at University of Tehran. My academic honours and achievements were highly considerable and appreciated strongly by the country’s authorities. The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran (the highest political position in the country) waived me from National Military Service. In addition, a former Iranian president also appreciated me, shaking with me and rewarding me with three National Gold Coins.

3- Computer skills
My idea is that people how are working in the field of humanities should make computer and web site facilities for themselves. It is not reasonable to rely on computer scientists to make facilities for the humanities because they are not perfectly aware of applicable methods and the particular needs of those working in the humanities. An example of that is: www.ardalanonline.com which is an online Persian course. In fact it is an online opportunity for learning Farsi. The website is open to everyone in the world. 

4- Teaching experience
April 2008- up to now: I have taught Persian language to different levels (from beginner to the highest level) at University of Oxford. I also taught modern social and political text as well as classical Persian. As a result of my experience, I launched a website for learning Persian online. The website is accessible through my personal page: www.ardalanonline.com
Before that, from 1997, I used to teach in Iran (Shiraz and Tehran). My teachings were about: Language for Iranian history students, Arabic Language, General Islamic studies and Theology, Arabic and Islamic texts.

5- Work experience
May 2008- until present: research assistant, Faculty of Oriental Studies, Oxford University, UK.
May 2008- until present: teaching assistant, Faculty of Oriental Studies, Oxford University, UK.
January 2005- October 2007: research assistant fellow, Foundation of History of Islamic Revolution of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
March 2007- June 2007: Manager of research group project on Islamic and Iranian civilization project, document centre and diplomatic history department of Iranian ministry of foreign affairs, Tehran, Iran. 
May 2004- June 2006: Cultural expert, Iranian Hajj and pilgrimage organization, Ministry of culture and Islamic guidance, Tehran, Iran.
September 2004- March 2005: research assistant in Islamic History textbook project, Payame noor University, Tehran, Iran.
Feb 1997- September 2000: Manager, Baqiatollah Cultural, Artistic and Religious Institute, Shiraz, Iran.

6- Research interests
- Historical methodolgy and epistemology
- Modern Iranian History
- Classical Persian studies.
- Persian language
- Islamic classical History.
- Islam religion and shi’a studies
- Current Islamic world problems, especially Islamic Unity discourse.

7- Papers and Publications
Articles:
Note: all of my written works are in Persian.
1-“a brief history of Palestinian people in 20th century”, in Forughe Vahdat, the journal of Islamic Mazahib University, No.9, Dec,2002, p 55-58.
2- “Mo’tazilah school of Islamic thought: history, beliefs and sects”, in Forughi Vahdat, the journal of Islamic Mazahib University, No.10, winter 2003, p96-100.
3- “Islam and Muslims in China”, in Forughi Vahdat, the journal of Islamic Mazahib University, No.13, autumn and winter 2004, p18-30
4- “The early Arab conquests in Iran”, Forughi Vahdat, the journal of Islamic Mazahib University, No.15, summer 2004, p28-38.
5- “Review of Tarikhi Alfi: the forgotten source in millennium history of Islamic world”, Forughe Vahdat, the journal of Islamic Mazahib University, No.19, summer, 2005.p23-35.
6- “What is the history in Iranian’s view? A research about meaning of history in Persian contemporary  dictionaries and encyclopedias” in Yad journal of Foundation of History of Islamic Revolution of Iran, No.77, 20th year, autumn 2005, p 93-121.
7- “The meaning and applications of history from view of Ayatollah Motahhari”, in 15 khordad specialized quarterly in the Iranian contemporary historical research, No.7, spring 2006, p 102-136.
8-“Review of  Persian Gulf maps book”  in Yad,  journal of Foundation of History of Islamic Revolution of Iran, no.77, 21th year, summer 2006, p 50-60.
9- The ancient anthropology in Quran. (unpublished)
10- Shi’a and Soni comparative theology: arguments on prophesy. (unpublished)
11- History of Fiqh in Islamic civilization (unpublished)
12- The relationship between Abbasid caliph Almuqtadi and Sultan Malikshah of Saljuq. (unpublished)
13- The sin of Sultan Muhammad khvarazmshah from the view of Mongolians historical source. (unpublished)
14- The political view of Ayatollah Borujerdi. (unpublished)
15 - Methodology of research, the forgotten necessity of Iranian historians. (unpublished)
16 - The newspaper and the Historian, Yad, journal of Foundation of History of Islamic Revolution of Iran, No.86, winter 1386, pp 308-350.

Books:
1- The beginning points in research on history and society from view of Ayatollah Motahhary. (unpublished), a project for Research Foundation of Iranian Contemporary History. 
2- An introduction to Iranian History and Persian studies web sites. (unpublished), a project for Foundation of History of Islamic Revolution of Iran. 

Translations:
1- Persian Translation of the book “Postmodernism and history” by Calum G. Brown. (unpublished)
2- Persian Translation of the book “A short guide to write about history” by Richard Marius and professor Mallin page. (unpublished)
3-  English language skills for Persian student in History. (unpublished)
4 - Contemporary history of Iran in British Times newspaper (accompanied by the scholarly team) (unpublished)
5- Persian translation of the book “History in Practice” by Ludmila Jordanova (unpublished)
6- Persian translation of the book “Historians on History” by john Tosh. (unpublished)
7- Persian Translation of the book “The Nature of History” by Arthur Marwick. (unpublished)
8-Persian Translation of the book , In defence of History, by Richard J. Evans (unpublished)

Contact Information

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