Model United Nations Simulations and English as a Lingua Franca

Book excerpt: One of the most important 21st century skills is the ability to negotiate constructive resolutions in the face of conflicts of interest. Negotiation is a form of communication that requires more than just language ability. It requires being able to listen to, and communicate with, others within a milieu of diverse language abilities, academic, professional and cultural backgrounds in an increasingly global society. Added to this is the reality that the majority of English spoken globally is English as a Lingua Franca (ELF). Model United Nations (MUN) simulations are uniquely positioned to help students develop their language ability and their global competencies, as well as being ideal opportunities for participants to experience ELF in an intensely communicative context. A common goal in MUN simulations is to prepare students to solve complex problems that are associated with living in a technological, competitive, and globally connected world. This volume provides researchers, negotiation practitioners, and language teachers with insights and best practices in MUN event and delegate preparation. Application of these best practices will significantly enrich the pedagogic environments designed for MUN delegates, especially in ELF contexts.