How to deliver a speech Above all, speeches should be clear and concise. You should know exactly what key points you want to make as, if you're not familiar with those points, your nervousness will increase. You must decide what style of speech will help you most in remembering these key points. Speeches can be written, improvised or delivered from memory. As speeches at a Model UN are never very long (even opening speeches are normally limited to two minutes), improvised speeches are normally best, as these can be delivered in a more natural and engaging style. But if you are not that confident, write out the entire speech – although this will normally sound more manufactured and contrived, it is better to make your points coherently than to stumble and fail to make them at all. Click here for more information on writing, improvising and memorising speeches. When it comes to the speech itself, here are some tips for making effective, memorable speeches. Before the speech Know the audience. Before the session even begins, get to know as many of the delegates in your committee as possible. It's easier to speak to a group of friends than to a group of total strangers. Visualise yourself giving your speech. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear, and assured. When you visualise yourself as successful, you will be successful. Realise that people want you to succeed. Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative, and entertaining. They don't want you to fail. If you must go to a dais or podium to speak, rise slowly when your name is called out and walk normally (not casually or lazily) up to the dais. Confidently climb up, look at the people all around, smile, and take your stance. During the speech What (not) to say Don't apologise. If you mention your nervousness or apologise for any problems you think you have with your speech, you may be calling the audience's attention to something they hadn't noticed. Concentrate on the message, not the medium. Focus on your message and your audience. If you don’t worry about your delivery you will be less nervous and will speak more naturally. Use appropriate language. Use language that is comfortable for you and the audience. Use words which are natural to you, and phrases which are understood by all. Avoid bookish language, or technical jargon. How to say it Always stand when speaking. It helps to project your voice and makes you more visible to the whole committee. Use hand gestures. Gestures add effect to your speech and help to emphasise certain points. But be careful not to overdo this – if you are waving your arms around like a windmill it will distract from what you are saying. Look up and make eye contact. Even if you have a prepared speech, make sure that you don’t just stare down at your speech without ever looking up – you will not effectively engage your audience, and people will struggle to hear you. Look up and around the room as you deliver sentences, and look into the eyes of people. Move your eyes in slow smooth cycles to cover the entire audience, especially corners. It catches attention and creates rapport – if you can make every member of an audience feel like you’re talking directly to them, they will listen and you will get your message across in a powerful way. Modulate your voice. Bring variations by changing loudness and tone as per the mood of your words and theme of your speech. Speak articulately, enunciate clearly and have enough volume to fill a room. Many speakers talk too quietly and too fast. Speak up and slow down so that your points can be remembered. Use humour for an extra flourish. Judicious use of humour can make a good speech great. Click here for more details. Model UN quirks Be courteous at all times. Treat all staff and delegates with respect. Begin and end your speeches courteously, with phrases like: Mr/Madam President; distinguished delegates; Honourable Chair; fellow delegates. Speak in the third person. Never use ‘I’, ‘you’, ‘he’ or ‘she’. In Model UNs, you are not individuals but the representative of a country. Refer to yourself by your country name and others as ‘honourable’ or ‘distinguished’ delegates. So instead of saying ‘I completely disagree with her opinion’ you should say ‘Cameroon completely disagrees with the opinion of the honourable delegate from the United Kingdom.’ Create consensus by using ‘we’. In a Model UN session, your goal is to come to a compromise as a group, so try to use ‘we’ to forge common agreement and bring people on board with your arguments. Use phrases such as: ‘We know’, ‘We are’, ‘We should’, ‘We wish’ etc. Be constructive. It is very easy to be critical and destructive of others’ ideas and proposals, but you must also be constructive, offering alternative arguments and ways forward.
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