Delegates, let’s be honest; most of the first-time MUN speeches sound like someone copied their
entire research and hit “play.” They are monotonous, packed with definitions, and guaranteed to make
half the room zone out.

But let me spill some tea: MUN speeches don’t have to be boring. In fact, the best delegates in the
committees aren’t always the ones with the fanciest words; they’re the ones who speak with energy,
structure, and with a pinch of storytelling magic.

So, let’s talk about how you can make your speech less “lecture mode” and more “wow, people
actually clapped for me.”

1. Care More About Speaking Than Speech

Remember, anyone can read a fancy paragraph, but nobody wants to listen to a robot. It’s your voice
modulation, pauses, and emphasis that change the plot and grab the attention.
Imagine saying “This crisis is urgent” in a flat, monotonous tone; boring, right?

Now imagine
lowering your voice and stressing on the word “urgent.” BOOM. Everyone’s listening.

● Play with your pace while you’re speaking i.e speed up when you’re listing problems or stats ,
and slow down when you’re driving a point home. That contrast keeps people hooked. Taking
a pause before your “big point” is also crucial as it builds suspense and makes everyone lean
in.

● Avoid the Monotonous Trap & stress the right words in your speech. If every sentence sounds
the same, people will zone out. Your voice should be like a roller coaster of ups, downs, and
twists. Use emphasis in your speeches, but don’t emphasize everything. Choose the one or
two words that really matter in your sentence and put the emphasis on those.

● Match your emotions to your content. Sound urgent and concerned for crises, hopeful and
pleasing for solutions, and firm and confident when challenging another delegate with
questions or point of orders. Your tone should tell the story as much as your words do.

2. Structuring your speech is your superpower

A confused, unorganised speech = a confused, unorganised committee.
If your points are all over the place, no one will follow you (not even the chair). That’s why you must
structure your speech in a way that keeps everyone in the room hooked.

● Start with a quote/line/ hook that makes people look up from their notepads.
● State what’s wrong and what demands everyone’s utmost attention using some statistics. (
Emphasis)
● Share what your country wants to do, not just what’s already obvious.
● End with a short, strong takeaway, make it slightly emotional, that people will remember.

Example of a well structured speech:

“Delegates, imagine your city is completely underwater in 20 years. That’s not fiction ladies and
gentlemen, that’s what climate change will cause. Today, rising seas already threaten nearly 40% of
the world’s population living in coastal areas. My country sees this as a direct threat to our coastal
communities, and we call for stronger renewable energy partnerships. This must be of utmost priority
because delegates, if we don’t act now, future generations will inherit only excuses, not solutions.”

3. Storytelling > Statistics

Numbers and data can be very cool, but stories and emotions are something that can make you stand
out the most. Using numbers in your speech is not wrong, but you need to make sure that your speech
is more impactful rather than just a dump of facts.

EXAMPLE:
Instead of just saying “X% of refugees lack access to clean water,” try adding a little emotion into it
and say: “Imagine being a mother who has to walk miles every day just to fill a single bucket of water
for her children. X% of refugees lack access to clean water.”
People remember feelings more than just figures, and adding feelings TO your figures, is what makes
your speech impactful.

4. What NOT to Say in a Speech

● Avoid saying dictionary definitions. Everyone already knows what “climate change” or
“human rights” mean. Don’t waste your precious 60 seconds on textbook lines.
EXAMPLE:
Instead of: “Climate change isn’t a definition; it’s the reason half of our farmlands are drying up”
Say: “Climate change isn’t a definition, it’s the reason half of our farmlands are drying up.”

● If you don’t have any points remaining, don’t ramble things up just to fill your speaking time.
If you’re out of ideas, wrap up. Remember, a crisp 30 seconds is better than a dull 90.
EXAMPLE:
Instead of:“So, yeah… in conclusion… umm… that’s all I wanted to say, I guess.”
Say: “In short, if this committee acts today, we’ll have solutions, and not excuses tomorrow.”

● Speaking too fast or too low makes all your research useless, because nobody actually hears
it. So, instead, pause for effect. A 2-second pause often says more than 20 rushed words.

5. The Secret mix: Confidence + Fun + cleverness

Your speech doesn’t have to be dead serious 24/7. A touch of humor, a clever analogy, or even just a
confident smile at the end, can make you stand out. Remember: delegates follow voices that make them want to listen.

At the end of the day, MUN speeches aren’t about sounding like a walking research paper, they’re
about owning the committee in all ways. You should speak like you mean it, structure your thoughts
like a story( with maybe a pinch of numbers), avoid rookie mistakes, and most importantly, enjoy the
process.

Remember: What matters is that you’re clear, confident, and authentic. The more you practice, the
more your voice becomes your superpower.
So next time you’re handed the mic, don’t just speak; make the committee remember you.