For two days, the Centre for Learning and Multilingualism had the honour of hosting a unique workshop: a life-size simulation of an international meeting in French, designed by the Centre for Learning and Multilingualism (CLM) Language Training Programme with the support of the International Organization of la Francophonie (IOF). The theme, “The challenges of diplomacy in the age of artificial intelligence”, gave rise to exchanges in which diplomatic French was in the spotlight.
Day 1: Preparations
The workshop started under the best auspices, with a warm welcome from Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, and the Permanent Representative of Lebanon and Chairman of the Francophone Ambassadors Group, H.E. Mr. Salim Baddoura, who each addressed a welcome message to the 15 selected participants. They praised the fruitful partnership between the IOF and UNOG, based on shared goals such as respect for multilingualism and strengthening the use of French within international bodies.
After the speeches, it was time to move on to the workshop: a president and a vice-president were appointed to orchestrate the debates. Each participant then took on their role, representing a fictional country.
Participants prepared their national stances, drafted their speeches, and considered strategic alliances. This demanding exercise gave participants the opportunity to apply their language skills, particularly in diplomatic French, a register characterised by its precision and subtlety.
Day 2: Heated negotiations and a common declaration
Informal discussions, negotiations, compromise-building... All the ingredients of a true diplomatic summit were present.
In the plenary sessions, everyone defended their vision with eloquence, culminating in the adoption of a final text: a joint declaration full of promise for a future in which AI will enable the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the service of humanity.
Following speeches by Cécile Léqué Folchini, representing the IOF, and Thomas Neufing, Head of CLM at the United Nations Office in Geneva, the joint declaration was read out by the session chairman, H.E. Mr. Ferran Costa. The meeting ended with a drink hosted by the IOF.
In a nutshell: a total success!
From passionate debates to linguistic performances, this workshop was a real success.
The participants demonstrated a mastery of French to meet the demands of the diplomatic context.
If you're looking for a course where language learning goes hand in hand with immersion, stimulating exchanges and conviviality, stay tuned. There are more exciting workshops to come at CLM - with or without AI - but always with excellence!
From left to right: Ms Thi Ha Trang Pham, First Secretary at the Vietnamese Mission, Mr Adao Miranda Joana Dos Santos, Diplomat at the Angolan Mission, Ms Kimberley MacFarlane, Second Secretary at the US Mission, Ms Tejaswinee Burumdoyal, Second Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Josemaria Diaz Inga, Diplomat at the Peruvian Mission, Ms Wendy Teresa Goico Campagna, Minister Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic, Mr Richard Bailey, Head of External Relations at UNDRR, Mr. Thomas Neufing, Head of the UNOG Centre for Learning and Multilingualism, Ms Nathalie Calvet, UNOG CLM French teacher, Ms Fabienne Pairon, Head of the UNOG CLM language training programme, H.E. Mr. Ferran Costa, Permanent Representative of the European Union to the United Nations, Ms Cécile Léqué Folchini and Pauline Ravel, Permanent Representatives of the International Organization of la Francophonie to the United Nations in Geneva and Vienna, Mr Ilir Nezaj, Counsellor of the Albanian Mission, Mr Jérémy Finnaz, UNOG CLM French teacher.