Mock UN session teaches students to see ‘big picture’
Print Edition
STUDENTS at Wenlai High School in Minhang recently participated in the 2014 Montessori Model United Nations in New York, where they discussed nuclear nonproliferation and other international issues with more than 1,000 students from around the world.
According to the rules, participants in the model UN could not represent their own countries. The 14 Wenlai students became representatives of the United States and had to adopt debate stances to sway the opinions of other delegations.
“The US has roles in everything, so we had to prepare for many topics,” said Xu Shuqing, the teacher of the delegation. “It was fairly tough for the students. They needed not only the abilities of debating and discussion, but also the brains of gamesmanship.”
The material provided by the United Nations contained very limited information, so the students had to do their own research on issues. Language and terminology were often tough hurdles.
“Dictionary was our best friend during the two months’ preparation,” said Shen Jinxuan, a Grade 8 student, who was leader of the delegation. “Almost all our time after school was spent writing solid and smooth arguments.”
Students said they thought their most impressive performances was on the issue of nuclear nonproliferation.
“I used the veto power,” said Lu Haoyu, a member of the delegation. “I know that the veto is hardly ever used in the formal United Nations General Assembly, but when I found that our proposal wasn’t adopted in the final resolution, I decided to use the power.”
After the event, a professor from Stanford University who was obviously impressed by the performance, exchanged details with Lu and asked him to keep in touch.
Students said the biggest lesson they learned from the mock UN experience is to see the bigger picture.
“When you are in such a position, what you need to bear in mind is not just about your country and your people,” said Shen. “It’s about the whole world. That’s what we never experienced before.”
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