ThreeInvaluableSkills MODELUNCanTeachYou

By Jason Aceto Staff writer

When you join a club and register for a Model UN conference, you will be assigned to represent a particular country or perhaps a historical persona. You will also be assigned to participate in a political committee. These “political assignments” serve to simulate a real-world gathering of United Nations diplomats Student conferences can unfold over two to four days and registration numbers can involve anywhere from 500 to 3000 students, depending on the prestige and geographic reach of the event.

Skill #1:

Research (Preparation)

Research is a power skill that you can improve with practice. With support from various resources such as a “background guide”, Model UN participants go about researching their assigned countries and where they stand on various ideas related to their assigned committee What makes Model UN so valuable is the “immersive nature” of this activity and process It’s all about preparation You prepare and you practice verbalizing the positions you have researched. In other words, you get to "practice what you preach", as the saying goes

Skill #2: Positioning (Building a stance)

Positioning is another important skill you develop through Model UN. It’s all about adopting a stance and being able to argue effectively. And this is the whole point of being a delegate When you are assigned to a committee, you represent your country or your assigned character. For clarity, we will call this your assigned “persona” As such, you are expected to advocate for your persona’s policies, ideas, and perspectives. You do this by creating a position paper The paper demonstrates your understanding of the issues and contains supporting facts to argue your stance. As such, Model UN helps build your confidence in presenting, negotiating, and persuading.

Skill #3: Communication (Oral Presentation)

Standing in front of a crowd and speaking in public can be nerve-wracking. I found it to be terrifying! If that describes you, then you are in luck because Model UN helps you overcome this very common fear. Prior to your first conference, senior club members will create helpful simulations for you to practice. Communication and presentation skills are the backbone of these simulation activities No one gets left behind – everyone gets a chance to speak at least once. It may feel stressful, but you will get better with practice And that is the value of a simulation exercise. You will have no problem integrating your new confidence at the conference Should you choose to attend an international event, you could be speaking to crowds of 150 people or more!

In summary, Model UN offers a unique opportunity to develop and rehearse three valuable skills that you will leverage in your academic and professional pursuits. I hope this inspires you to join a club and to take part in this fun and energizing extra-curricular activity!