Teaching and Training Model UN Resources

Resources Provided by AMUN
AMUN is always seeking ways to make preparing for AMUN and other MUN conferences easier and more efficient, thus allowing both faculty and students more time to focus on researching their assigned country and topics. With this in mind, we have put together a number of resources directed specifically at faculty members and student leaders (club officers, etc.) who are responsible for leading others in their preparations.

A number of AMUN staff members have been involved with Model UNing for more than a decade, and have experience on all sides of the Model UN world — as participants, as conference organizers and as faculty members or officers preparing a group for attendance. In creating this page we have brought together many ideas from our staff members, along with resources they have used in the past. This includes class and club resources, as well as presentations made to past Model UN Summit training conferences run by the United Nations Association of the USA.

If you have any lessons, syllabi or curricula on MUN teaching or planning, or on substantive or procedural UN issues, which you would like included in this listing, please e-mail us at mail@amun.org. AMUN will gladly credit your organization with authorship and provide links to your conference or program.

 

Please choose from the following categories:

1. Teaching of Model UN
   • Ambassador’s Club video series: these five video series cover a wide range of topics, from the inner workings of the UN General Assembly, to substantive discussions of important UN issues, including terrorism, financing, women and racism.  Jointly produced by The Ambassador’s Club at the United Nations and AMUN, these videos provide never-before-seen insight into the rules, resolution procedures and negotiations that make up diplomacy in the General Assembly.
   • Model UN in a Box Simulation guide: this is a resource created by AMUN which includes activities on resolution writing and caucusing, as well as a practice simulation for class or club use.
   • How to Prepare for a Virtual Model UN Conference: this free supplement to our Model UN in a Box Simulation guide looks at the similarities and differences between virtual and in-person conferences, provides some suggestions for modifications for the virtual environment and offer some additional tools for your preparation.
   • Activities of the Member States: This resource provides basic information on Member States’ interactions in the primary United Nations organs and key United Nations reporting on Member States. It is an ideal place to begin researching the relationship between a given State and the United Nations system.
   • Learn about the United Nations: this workshop is designed to provide a quick overview of the UN for beginners (512k downloadable Adobe PDF file – requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view)
   • Some Differences Between the United Nations and Model United Nations Conferences: an analysis prepared for the UNA Global Classrooms program and the Model UN Summit.
   • Tricks of the Trade: Nuances, Tactics and Strategies for Model UN : some suggestions on effective role playing and consensus building in a Model UN setting.
2. Sample Model UN Course Syllabi
   • Collegiate Model UN Semester Course Syllabus
   • Collegiate Model UN Quarter Course Syllabus
3. Resources Provided by AMUN
   • AMUN’s Representative handbooks: these are the main preparation guides for the AMUN International Conference, but should also be read by faculty and student leaders to help them prepare students.
   • Country Pronunciation Video: Pronouncing your fellow Representatives’ country names correctly is a sign of respect and diplomatic courtesy, and mispronouncing them may be taken as a slight. Get them right by practicing with our pronunciation video, which is available publicly on YouTube.
4. Resources provided by the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA). The UNA provides a broad range of resources for MUN participants and faculty members. Information on these publications is available at: www.unausa.org. Specific items include:
   • • UNA Calendar of Events: this guide lists all known high school and college level Model UN conferences around the world, including full contact information and descriptions of each event.
   • A Global Agenda: Issues before the UN General Assembly: this book is updated yearly, and provides background notes on the main topics which will be discussed by the UN General Assembly each year. This is another excellent complement to a conference handbook.
   • Global Classrooms Curriculum: this high school based curriculum is an excellent guide for high school teachers on introducing international affairs and the Model UN to your classroom.