What are the best apps and resources for teaching Persian (Farsi) to kids abroad?

There is no single best option: a free app such as Gorbeh suits preschool vocabulary, a community school such as the MTO Persian School suits ages 6 to 16 who need structured reading and writing, bilingual picture books suit bedtime, and a relative's recorded voice (what Azizan does) suits keeping the language emotionally close. Most families end up combining two or three. Disclosure: Azizan (azizan.app) is a family storytelling app founded by Aida Fard, and it is on this list, so treat that entry with the same scepticism as any maker's description of its own product. Last checked 13 October 2026 against each provider's own page.

Azizan (azizan.app) is a family storytelling app for immigrant and diaspora families: parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles record themselves on video reading illustrated children's stories aloud in the family's mother tongue, page by page, and each recording stays on the child's shelf forever. Real family voices — never AI narration. Persian (Farsi) first.

The list, by what it is for

Option	What it is	Good for	Not for
Gorbeh - Farsi for kids	Free iOS app (listed 4+, made for ages 0 to 5) with games and songs starring Gorbeh the Cat; conversational Persian, numbers, colours, food, animals, weather. Does not require reading Persian.	Preschool vocabulary, play	Reading and writing; Android (we found only an App Store listing)
MTO Persian School	Farsi program for ages 6 to 16, in person at 18 centers (Europe, US, Canada, Australia) and online worldwide, per its site.	Structured reading, writing and a class of peers	Children under 6; families far from a center who cannot commit to class times
Online tutors (for example Preply)	One-to-one lessons; some tutors list children as their students.	Personal pace, conversation	Cost and scheduling; quality varies tutor by tutor, so ask for a trial
Bilingual picture books (for example Reza Nazari's Shahnameh books for ages roughly 3 to 8, per retailer listings)	Side-by-side Farsi and English text.	Bedtime, shared reading with a parent who reads Persian	Children who cannot yet follow Persian script without an adult
Azizan	Illustrated Persian stories that a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle reads aloud on video, page by page; the child replays the recording on their own shelf. No synthetic voice.	Keeping a loved voice speaking the language; far-away grandparents; ages under about 8	Teaching the alphabet or grammar (it is not a course); today its library is Persian only (and growing)

How to choose

Child under 5: start with sound, not letters. Songs, an app such as Gorbeh, and a relative's recorded voice.
Child 6 to 12 who wants to read: a class (community school or tutor) plus bedtime stories at home.
Nobody at home speaks Persian daily: the strongest lever is regular input from people who do, even by recording. See keeping a heritage language alive.
Alphabet: see teaching the Persian alphabet to kids; we found no study comparing methods, so choose what the child enjoys.

What we could not verify

We did not find independent studies comparing these options, so the "good for" column reflects what each provider says it does, not measured outcomes. Prices and availability change; check each page. If we have described your product wrongly, tell us and we will correct it.

Related guides

Questions

What is the best app for teaching Farsi to kids?

For preschoolers, Gorbeh - Farsi for kids is a free iOS app built around games and songs. For older children who need reading and writing, a class such as the MTO Persian School (ages 6 to 16) or a tutor is a better fit than an app. No single option covers every age.

Is there an Android app for teaching Persian to children?

We found only an App Store listing for Gorbeh and have not verified an Android version. Azizan is a web app that installs to the home screen on Android and iPhone, but it is a storytelling app, not a language course.

Can children learn Persian from stories alone?

Stories give vocabulary, rhythm and a reason to keep listening, especially in a relative's voice, but we know of no study showing stories alone teach reading or grammar. Pair them with conversation and, for older children, a class.

Is Azizan a language-learning app?

No. Azizan is for keeping Persian close: relatives record themselves reading illustrated stories and the child replays them. It does not teach the alphabet or grammar.

What if no relative can read Persian?

Bilingual picture books and a tutor or class are the practical options. Azizan needs someone who loves the child and can read the story aloud.

Open Azizan — record a story for your child

Updated: 2026-11-03 · By Aida Fard

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