EXPERT SPEAK- THE MUN WAY!!

Having done 3 Model United Nations (MUN) in my life, when people come across me, one of the most frequent questions I am asked is: what does it take to be a good delegate? There is no shortcut winning formula. Each delegate is different. Everyone has his or her own style and this is what makes the experience even more enriching. Nonetheless, there are a few things that every good delegate has, and through this article I will attempt to get you prepared for YOUR MUN.

First of all RESEARCH. Once you have been allocated your country and commission (for instance, I was representing Cambodia in the Economic commission), read EVERYTHING and (I stress on that) that you can find on the topic. Although you have to focus on a particular area (Human Rights, Environment, Education…), make sure you have a reasonable amount of knowledge of the other areas as well. Remember, when you participate in MUN, you are no longer a citizen of your country (so to speak), but a representative, an ambassador, of the country you have been given. The basics would be to know the Capital City, the Currency, the Head of State, and some statistics on population and tourism. If your country is known for something specific, make sure you are acquainted with it. For example, in Cambodia, the Angkor Wat temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site, being the most visited tourist attraction and even finds itself on the national flag! It would have been awkward to miss that! Then go on and filter your research to your commission. If you have been allocated the Economic commission, a starting point would be to know the main source of income of the country, its imports and exports, GDP and inflation. If you have Human Rights commission, look for NGO comments or reports and if you have been allocated the Sports commission, look at any major events, stadium or team that makes the country internationally known; for instance, cricket for India and the Olympic games for England. If you have the Culture commission, focus on an aspect of the country that makes it famous; the Sega dance in Mauritius for example.

Once you have thoroughly researched and know your country at the tips of your fingers, start by looking at the different resolutions (each group in each commission will have prepared one – listing the things it hopes to achieve). After reading all of them, prepare your arguments for and against for each and every one of them. If you want to gain more points, you have no other choice than always having something plausible to say. You will also be asked questions by your fellow colleagues, so be ready for these. Try to anticipate questions you might ask. One advice would be, put yourself in the shoes of your counterparts. If you were to here such and such argument, what question would crop to your mind? What aspect of the debate would you like to have more information on? Then, you will have your answer. Prepare brief replies to these; if the question comes up, you have your answer. If it doesn’t, you know a little bit more. Knowledge is never a waste.  Also, prepare questions you would like to ask your colleagues. You can prepare these beforehand or on the spot.

Lastly, PRACTICE. Be it in front of friends or your mirror, you need to be familiar with public speaking. Use different tones and lay emphasis where needed. Your audience needs to be captivated by what you’re saying. You do not want all of them to fall asleep! If you manage to catch their attention, chances are, they’ll have a question in store for you. If you answer it properly, you have just gained additional marks.

Some final advice would be not to stress. If you have followed these tips, there is no reason why you should be stressed. Good preparation leads to good performance. Besides, MUN is first and foremost a magical experience where you get to be in the skin of diplomats, discuss ideas and find solutions to world problems. Dress smartly, the way you look has an impact on the way you feel and gives a positive image of yourself. I’d recommend suit and tie for guys and a nice suit or dress for girls.

I hope that this little piece of advice has been helpful.
If you are a future MUN delegate, I wish you all the best.

About The Author:-

Deena.

Mauritius Model United Nations - Best Delegation (representing Cambodia) (2009), Chairperson ECOSOC (Economic) Commission (2010) and Coordinator (2011).
LLB Year 2 Student. 

Posted in: MUN and ADR COMPETITIONS,YOUR VOICE