You might already know why it is important that you speak and express yourself at a Model United Nations youth conference. However, it is crucial that you get yourself prepared first. It is excellent if you think you can go without any preparation and still take the floor, kudos to your confidence! In case you’re an inexperienced delegate, or you’re about to participate in MUN for the first time, it’s clever to learn some key points about preparing yourself. This blog will give you some basic guidance about preparing yourself to speak. Here you go!
Once you’ve decided that you want to speak in MUN, it’s better to understand how. You must remember the following things:
Ensure that you have thoroughly read the guidance notes MUN provides beforehand.
Do not forget to make full use of the lobbying time provided at the start of MUN.
Start by observing some of the more experienced delegates in your first MUN committee.
Begin by laying out your country’s position on the topic when you speak.
Prepare some notes before MUN on issues you expect to arise and questions you think you’ll be challenged with.
Remain polite and courteous throughout and remember to speak formally.
Let’s discuss each one in detail:
Thoroughly read the guidance notes:
It is ideal to read the guidance notes provided beforehand when you first attend a Model UN. The guidance notes will give you an in-depth understanding of the procedures and processes involved in MUN. Ensure that you understand these as thoroughly as you can before attending MUN.
Make full use of the lobbying time
MUNs start with an opportunity for the delegates to mix, discuss and form groups and positions on issues. Groups of delegates will form around motions related to the committee topics and you should talk to other delegates about those motions to understand what to say when you speak. It is also important to understand where your country would sit in relation to the joint motions that are being prepared.
Observing some of the more experienced delegates
It is good to begin by observing some of the more experienced delegates in your first committee. For beginners, it can be a clever decision to pick a less prominent country to represent within the committee you are attending, rather than picking a key nation in the committee area or a major Security Council member. It will provide you with more time to observe and prepare.
Begin by laying out your countries position
Be sure to lay out your country’s position on the topic as soon as you start to speak at MUN. Be concise, clear, and remember to communicate directly where your country stands along with explaining briefly why your country holds that position. By doing this, you will be able to build alliances with other delegates to form blocs, enabling you to vote together to pass motions.
Prepare some notes before MUN.
It is a wise approach to prepare notes on what you want to say before speaking at MUN. It is allowed in MUN to carry notes with you, so it’s better if you write down a list of key points that you want to raise in relation to your delegate country, the topic agenda, and the committee. Also, you should try thinking about the obvious questions of other delegates that you anticipate to be challenged with. In this way, you will be able to come up with answers based on your delegate countries’ real-world position.
Remain polite and courteous
Since speaking at a MUN is formal, make sure to be polite and courteous throughout the event, even if situations get heated up. You may be confronted with different viewpoints and questioned hard on the points you have raised, but It’s important to remember your country’s views on the issue when speaking at MUN without getting thrown off when other delegates attack your stance.
To Wrap Up:
With that said, we hope you have understood the basics for preparing yourself to speak while participating in MUN. Best Diplomats can guide you if you want to find out more about the Model United Nations Conference.
