A little light translation and notetaking! The sites of the EU, the UN, the FAO, the Bank of Italy and NATO

Use the EU website to improve your ability to produce correct English vocabulary, grammar and syntax. The are also links to the sites of the UN, the FAO, the Bank of Italy and NATO.

The homepage of the EU website

Start with the EU homepage and all the documents linked it. Open the homepage in Italian and open it again in English on another page on your laptop. Translate from Italian to English orally line by line, moving from the Italian version to the English version to check. Of course, there will be some differences of style and occasionally of sentence structure, but you are interested in identifying any really bad errors of vocabulary or grammar that you make (the errors will be mainly vocabulary). Make notes on your errors. You should also note any spelling you need to remember.

https://europa.eu/european-union/index_it

https://europa.eu/european-union/index_en

Then open all the documents listed on the homepage (and the ones connected to those!) in Italian and English.

https://eu-solidarity-ukraine.ec.europa.eu/index_it

https://eu-solidarity-ukraine.ec.europa.eu/index_en

Sometimes you can change the language of the document directly on that page, but other times you have to go back to the original homepage in Italian or English and follow the same series of steps to the document that you want. In the EU Newsroom some of the documents are only in English, but the highlighted ones are in both languages. See which documents are in both languages and which are only in English on this page.  

https://european-union.europa.eu/news-and-events_it

https://european-union.europa.eu/news-and-events_en

You can, of course, search for a particular topic:

the EU/UK future relationship after Brexit

https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/relations-non-eu-countries/relations-united-kingdom_it

https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/relations-non-eu-countries/relations-united-kingdom_en

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/it/statement_21_1018

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_21_1018

or the EU response to Covid-19

https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/coronavirus-response_it

https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/coronavirus-response_en

The EU in 2022 (the General Report)

Don’t forget, if you need to expand your knowledge of basic vocabulary, go to the EU site in Italian and English, where you will find ‘the EU in 2022’ (a general report of 128 pages). Open the report in Italian and open it again on another page in English on your laptop. Translate from Italian to English orally line by line, moving from the Italian version to the English version to check. Of course, there will be some differences of style and occasionally of sentence structure, but you are interested in identifying any really bad errors of vocabulary or grammar that you make (the errors will be mainly vocabulary) Make notes on your errors. You should also note any spelling you need to remember.

https://op.europa.eu/webpub/com/general-report-2022/it/

https://op.europa.eu/webpub/com/general-report-2022/en/

from EU publications (also useful if you are looking for other texts to read or translate)

https://op.europa.eu/en/home

https://op.europa.eu/en/web/general-publications/publications

https://op.europa.eu/en/search-results?p_p_id=eu_europa_publications_portlet_search_executor_SearchExecutorPortlet_INSTANCE_q8EzsBteHybf&p_p_lifecycle=1&p_p_state=normal&queryText=The+EU+in+2022&facet.collection=EULex%2CEUPub%2CEUDir%2CEUWebPage%2CEUSummariesOfLegislation&startRow=1&resultsPerPage=10&SEARCH_TYPE=SIMPLE

https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/d73b364e-c180-11ed-8912-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF/source-286211127

https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/d73b364e-c180-11ed-8912-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF/source-286211441

https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/d73b364e-c180-11ed-8912-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF/source-286211475 and the links on the right for previous years

2021

https://op.europa.eu/webpub/com/general-report-2021/it/

https://op.europa.eu/webpub/com/general-report-2021/en/

2020

https://op.europa.eu/webpub/com/general-report-2020/it/

https://op.europa.eu/webpub/com/general-report-2020/en/

2019

https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/66c4ad7e-6281-11ea-b735-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF/source-266596858

then click on the language you want and download in Italian and English

file:///C:/Users/HP/Downloads/lue%20nel%202019-NAAD20001ITN.pdf

file:///C:/Users/HP/Downloads/the%20eu%20in%202019-NAAD20001ENN%20(1).pdf

And then the in 2018

https://op.europa.eu/it/publication-detail/-/publication/292fd37c-30d8-11e9-8d04-01aa75ed71a1/language-it/format-PDF/source-search

file:///C:/Users/HP/Downloads/lue%20nel%202018-NAAD19001ITN.pdf

file:///C:/Users/HP/Downloads/the%20eu%20in%202018-NAAD19001ENN.pdf

This will give you more than 150 pages of Italian to translate into English! To check your translation just move between the Italian and English version and take notes on regular language usage and differences. You can also download the French, Spanish or German versions.

And here's the EU in 2017 (130 pages)

https://op.europa.eu/it/publication-detail/-/publication/4d16193a-25a7-11e8-ac73-01aa75ed71a1/language-en

file:///C:/Users/HP/Downloads/lue%20nel%202017-NAAD18001ITN.pdf

file:///C:/Users/HP/Downloads/the%20eu%20in%202017-NAAD18001ENN%20(1).pdf

And here's the EU in 2016 (104 pages)

https://op.europa.eu/it/publication-detail/-/publication/99c8732c-094a-11e7-8a35-01aa75ed71a1/language-en

file:///C:/Users/HP/Downloads/the%20eu%20in%202016-NAAD17001ENN.pdf

file:///C:/Users/HP/Downloads/lue%20nel%202016-NAAD17001ITN.pdf

The EU in 2015 (96 pages)

https://op.europa.eu/it/web/general-report

https://op.europa.eu/documents/2072384/2117292/NAAD16001ITN.pdf/1b5e7210-6711-4c54-90b1-636c726b6a0d?t=1456845711000

https://op.europa.eu/en/web/general-report

https://op.europa.eu/documents/2072384/2117292/NAAD16001ENN.pdf/7583a46b-e8f0-4ae7-b03f-8ebea15d2e76

and ‘the General report on the activities of the European Union 2014’ (288 pages!)

https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/beafd525-4bc8-468c-9342-69041fb04e0f

file:///C:/Users/HP/Downloads/relazione%20generale%20sullattivit%C3%A0%20dellunione%20europea-NAAD15001ITN.pdf

file:///C:/Users/HP/Downloads/general%20report%20on%20the%20activities%20of%20the%20european%20union-NAAD15001ENN.pdf

If you prefer, you can go straight to the English version of the EU in 2021 or other texts on the EU site or UN site and simply start taking notes on common expressions used in diplomatic English.

There’s also EU law. Search for a specific topic, the click on the law, choose the language and download the text

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/search.html?scope=EURLEX&text=2022&lang=en&type=quick&qid=1663182311648

There's also the European Green Deal in Italian and English

https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_it

https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en

This page and all the linked pages

And the EU Recovery plan - NextGenerationEU

https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/recovery-plan-europe_it

https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/recovery-plan-europe_en

and all the pages and documents linked to the EU’s main page

https://europa.eu/european-union/index_it

https://europa.eu/european-union/index_en

The UN

There is also the UN Annual Report 2021 for note-taking on the language, unless you want to translate from French or Spanish into English!

https://www.un.org/annualreport/index.html

file:///C:/Users/HP/Downloads/2109745-E-ARWO-2021-Final-15-Sept-WEB-pages-m.pdf

or 2020

https://www.un.org/annualreport/2020/

or 2019

https://www.un.org/annualreport/2019/

or 2018

https://www.un.org/annualreport/2018/

If you prefer you can go straight to the UN site and simply read and take notes on the vocabulary and phraseology that they use. Start with the UN News Centre:

https://news.un.org/en/news (click on the right for stories from previous years)

and for listening practice, go to the UN audio section

https://news.un.org/en/audio-hub

https://news.un.org/en/audio-product/news-brief

You should also look at all the links on the right on both those pages

There's also the FAO in Italian and English to practise your translation skills

The articles listed on the FAO archive page here are also available in English. Click on the article you want to get it in Italian and then open the site on another page on your laptop, go to the article again and click on 'English' at the top to get the English version. Translate from Italian to English orally line by line, moving from the Italian to the English text to check. Make notes on your vocabulary and grammar errors. Note any spelling you need to remember.

https://www.fao.org/news/archive/it/

There are also all the articles from previous years if you do a search for the year ans language at the top on the left. Put ‘2021 italiano’

Some examples from 2021 (but there are lots more):

https://www.fao.org/news/story/it/item/1415609/icode/

https://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/1415595/icode/

https://www.fao.org/news/story/it/item/1441736/icode/

https://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/1441673/icode/

https://www.fao.org/news/story/it/item/1439725/icode/

https://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/1439673/icode/

There‘s also the Bank of Italy site to explore

https://www.bancaditalia.it/

https://www.bancaditalia.it/homepage/index.html?com.dotmarketing.htmlpage.language=1

For example:

https://www.bancaditalia.it/pubblicazioni/bollettino-eco-bce/2020/bol-eco-4-2020/index.html?com.dotmarketing.htmlpage.language=102

https://www.bancaditalia.it/pubblicazioni/bollettino-eco-bce/2020/bol-eco-4-2020/index.html?com.dotmarketing.htmlpage.language=1

https://www.bancaditalia.it/pubblicazioni/bollettino-eco-bce/2020/bol-eco-4-2020/bolleco-BCE-4-2020.pdf

https://www.bancaditalia.it/pubblicazioni/bollettino-eco-bce/2020/bol-eco-4-2020/en-bolleco-BCE-4-2020.pdf?language_id=1

NATO

Start with the main page:

https://www.nato.int/

https://www-nato-int.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=it&_x_tr_hl=it&_x_tr_pto=sc 

Some useful expressions

When it comes to ....+ noun e.g. cultural diplomacy + sentence e.g. we need to understand what is meant by soft power'.

Some would say that …. + sentence e.g. a military intervention should be avoided at all costs.

By doing this …. + sentence e.g. Italy's partners are failing to show the solidarity on which the European Union is based.

As a direct result of ….+ noun or gerund or phrase e.g. the economic crisis, + sentence e.g. many countries saw their public debt rise steeply.

Undoubtedly, …... + sentence e.g. this challenge requires a swift, collective and coordinated response.

In (the) light of this, or In the light of + noun e.g. this situation, these tensions etc. + sentence e.g. the need for negotiation has become urgent

In short, ...+ sentence e.g. despite the signs of economic recovery there are no grounds for complacency.

Let us now focus on …. + noun or gerund or phrase e.g. the economic challenge

There are no simple answers.

Here are some of the main questions that are raised by these events: + some direct questions

What is clear is (the fact) that …  + sentence e.g. there is no going back

What is less clear is whether …+ question e.g./ why this is happening. /what the UN should do. etc..

For a long time it has been fashionable to argue that … + sentence e.g. the social media strengthen democracy. However, ….

Conventional wisdom says that ../ tells us that …+ sentence e.g. all states need allies.

It must be stressed that... + sentence e.g. this offers only a temporary solution

Another factor/ question/ issue etc. to be considered is / to be taken into consideration is ... + sentence

If, and this is a big if, ….  + sentence, then …. + sentence

Given the current climate, …./ Given the current climate of + noun e.g. debate, fear, distrust, optimism etc.

In the wake of … + noun e.g. recent events, these terrorist attacks

 

Some useful vocabulary for international relations

  https://irp2014.wordpress.com/vocabulary-lists/

https://diplomacy.state.gov/discover-diplomacy/diplomatic-dictionary/

https://www.vocabulary.com/lists/183677#view=notes

http://www.cram.com/flashcards/essentials-of-international-relations-vocab-1895879

https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/122125.pdf

https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/218634.pdf

http://kamudiplomasisi.org/pdf/kitaplar/___adictionaryofdiplomacy.pdf

Some language for essay writing

Useful expressions for writing an essay:

http://www.dcielts.com/ielts-vocabulary/making-your-writing-more-academic-by-being-impersonal/

http://fullspate.digitalcounterrevolution.co.uk/advanced-efl-essay-writing/advanced-essay-phrases.html

http://www.smart-words.org/linking-words/transition-words.html

http://www.luizotaviobarros.com/2013/04/academic-writing-useful-expressions.html

http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/writing-useful-espressions-essay.php#.U_sBbqNvBOY

terminology:

http://www.cram.com/flashcards/international-relations-glossary-terms-550037

http://www.peace.ca/glossaryoftermsforir.htm

http://www.irtheory.com/know.htm

http://www.unc.edu/depts/europe/teachingresources/intl-glossary.htm

and maybe:

http://www.businessballs.com/latin-terms-phrases.htm

structuring your essay:

http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/studyadvice/studyresources/essays/sta-planningessay.aspx

(then go to Essay Writing)

http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/writing/medicine/psychology/essay-structure/3.xml

http://unilearning.uow.edu.au/essay/4bi.html

http://www.wikihow.com/Write-an-English-Essay

Essays on Diplomacy:

http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/Diplomacy-Intro

http://www.ukessays.co.uk/essays/economics/economic-diplomacy.php

http://www.preservearticles.com/201105307227/diplomats-and-diplomacy.html

Some Language and Structure for Diplomatic Speeches and Presentations in English

Making a speech in English

How to make a welcome speech in English

http://www.write-out-loud.com/welcome-speech.html

http://forum.thefreedictionary.com/postst34263_model-welcome-speech.aspx

http://www.english-for-students.com/The-Welcome-Speech.html

http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/writing-an-effective-welcome-speech.html

How to make a presentation speech in English

https://www.englishclub.com/speaking/presentations-pres.htm

http://www.google.it/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCYQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.springer.com%2Fcda%2Fcontent%2Fdocument%2Fcda_downloaddocument%2F9781441965905-c1.pdf%3FSGWID%3D0-0-45-971666-p173999664&ei=owYsVcahGajg7Qbj94GACg&usg=AFQjCNGBI91q3XeMrWq1JMC35uZJqhX6oQ&bvm=bv.90491159,d.ZGU

http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/audience/foreign-audience/

http://www.formsofaddress.info/USD.html

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/give-corporate-culture-speech-65328.html

and Expo Milano 2015

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/140870.pdf

 

More Language and Structure for Speeches and Presentations

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/business/talkingbusiness/unit3presentations/expert.shtml

http://speakspeak.com/resources/general-english-vocabulary/presentation-language-phrases

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/business-english/business-english-presentation-phrases/

ttps://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/3-steps-introduction/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwpi1Lm6dFo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHhqWbI0y4M

Some Examples of Diplomatic Speeches

Presidenza della Repubblica

Presidente della Repubblica Sergio Mattarella

https://presidenti.quirinale.it/Presidente/0/ricerca/discorsi

http://www.quirinale.it/

https://www.quirinale.it/ricerca/discorsi

https://www.quirinale.it/page/en

https://www.quirinale.it/ricerca/discorsi/en

https://www.quirinale.it/ricerca/comunicati/en

and then, for example

https://www.quirinale.it/elementi/50345

https://www.quirinale.it/elementi/44093

or in English

https://www.quirinale.it/elementi/50310

https://www.quirinale.it/elementi/49357

https://www.quirinale.it/elementi/1421

https://presidenti.quirinale.it/elementi/219049

https://presidenti.quirinale.it/elementi/218912

and then the Italian Constitution in English

http://www.prefettura.it/FILES/AllegatiPag/1187/Costituzione_ENG.pdf

former Presidents

https://presidenti.quirinale.it/

https://presidenti.quirinale.it/Presidente/0/ricerca/discorsi (then keep clicking on the arrows to move further back into the past)

For example: Giorgio Napolitano

https://presidenti.quirinale.it/elementi/55064

https://presidenti.quirinale.it/elementi/55043

https://presidenti.quirinale.it/elementi/55024

 

you can also search for key word topics in Italian or English on

https://presidenti.quirinale.it/Presidente/0/ricerca/discorsi

for example:

‘water’

https://presidenti.quirinale.it/elementi/218558

‘Treaties of Rome’

https://presidenti.quirinale.it/elementi/218550

https://presidenti.quirinale.it/elementi/218633

‘Expo Milano’

https://www.quirinale.it/elementi/1381

‘terrorism’

https://presidenti.quirinale.it/elementi/218496

‘representing national unity’

https://presidenti.quirinale.it/elementi/218523

Obama's speeches:

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/barackobamaspeeches.htm

For example:

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/barackobama/barackobamaunitednations71.htm

Federica Mogherini

https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/61140/speech-high-representativevice-president-federica-mogherini-plenary-session-european_en

https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/malawi/58382/speech-hrvp-federica-mogherini-nato-parliamentary-assembly-meeting_vi

https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/22516/speech-high-representativevice-president-federica-mogherini-amcham-eu-transatlantic-conference_en

Speeches by Ambassadors

http://www.stats.gov.cn/english/specialtopics/IntConferenceOnAgCensus/200204/t20020401_29913.html

http://it.china-embassy.org/ita/xwdt/t1171685.htm

https://amblondra.esteri.it/ambasciata_londra/en/search?q=site:amblondra.esteri.it%20speech

http://www.amblondra.esteri.it/ambasciata_londra/resource/doc/2016/09/invest_in_italy_roadshow.pdf

Chinese Foreign Minister

https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjb_663304/wjbz_663308/2461_663310/

Russian Foreign Minister

https://www.rusemb.org.uk/artarh/

Speeches by the Italian Foreign Minister

https://www.affaritaliani.it/politica/il-testo-integrale-del-discorso-di-di-maio-dopo-le-consultazioni-con-mattarella-621840.html

https://www.esteri.it/en/sala_stampa/archivionotizie/interventi/2012/06/20120614_intervento_twiplomacy/

EU President von der Leyen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dULAt-nRXY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTsLtsGRIdA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cUurRx45mo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAjho3gVh50

file:///C:/Users/HP/Downloads/Speech_by_President_von_der_Leyen_at_the_Schengen_Forum.pdf

Romanian and Swedish UN Youth Delegates

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uDQctQ1TeY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbtq3szgV5M

Mario Draghi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVLpuZMNrv4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtoL7d71ndI

Rappresentante Permanente all’Onu

https://italyun.esteri.it/rappresentanza_onu/it/comunicazione/archivio-news/2011-03-28-g-napolitano-ga.html

https://italyun.esteri.it/rappresentanza_onu/it/comunicazione/archivio-news/riunione-della-plenaria-con-il.html

https://italyun.esteri.it/rappresentanza_onu/it/comunicazione/archivio-news/2015-09-14-cardi-ufc.html 

Some ideas about writing your essay for the concorso regarding content, organization and argument

 

1)    There should be a clear content that demonstrates your knowledge of current affairs (and where possible the position of Italy and the EU and the diplomatic corps and its work)

2)      The content should not be purely theoretical

3)      The content should not be purely historical

4)      The content should not be one point repeated again and again but a series of points in an argument

5)      The essay should answer the question posed in the title and interpret it where necessary

6)      The content of the essay should be organized in a step by step structure the carries the reader from an initial response to, and interpretation of, the question to a logical and balanced conclusion. Your paragraphing should respect the structure you choose, e.g. for and against / cause and consequence / hypothesis, application, objections / contrasting definitions /fact, interpretation /

evidence-based logical steps / an extended analogy narrative and comment

7)      Argue a position. Your line of argument should flow from your introduction and should be easy to follow. Your essay should not be a series of disconnected points.

8)      Wherever it is possible give practical examples drawn from current international relations

9)      Your essay should be informed, up to date and balanced (diplomatic).

10)  Your handwriting should be good enough to be fully legible

11)  Language – the formal, standard English for international relations found on the EU site, the UN site the Italian Foreign Ministry site and the site of Italy’s Permanent Mission to the UN, plus any high-frequency expression that you have found in a reputable source.