Use the EU website to improve your ability to produce correct English vocabulary, grammar and syntax. There 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 2023 (the general report on the activities of the European Union)

Don’t forget, if you need to expand your knowledge of basic vocabulary, go to the Publications Office of the European Union at https://op.europa.eu/en/home on the EU site in Italian and English, where you will find ‘the EU in 2023’ (the general report on the activities of the European Union, more than 100 pages in various sections). 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 and make notes on the vocabulary. 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-2023/it/

https://op.europa.eu/webpub/com/general-report-2023/en/

The EU publications site is 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 look at the links to publications on the Green Deal, the environment, artificial intelligence (AI) etc.

and for the general report for previous years previous years, just do a search on https://op.europa.eu/en/home for ‘the Eu in 2022’ etc.

2022

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

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

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/webpub/com/general-report-2019/it/

https://op.europa.eu/webpub/com/general-report-2019/en/

then click on the language you want and download in Spanish, French or German!)

https://op.europa.eu/webpub/com/general-report-2019/fr/

2018

https://op.europa.eu/webpub/com/general-report-2018/it/

https://op.europa.eu/webpub/com/general-report-2018/en/

2017

https://op.europa.eu/webpub/com/general-report-2017/it/

https://op.europa.eu/webpub/com/general-report-2017/en/

2016

https://op.europa.eu/webpub/com/general-report-2016/it/

https://op.europa.eu/webpub/com/general-report-2016/en/

The EU in 2015

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

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

If you prefer, you can go straight to the English version of the EU in 2023 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

for example, cybersecurity with the text in different languages

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32022L2555&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

https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resilience-facility_it

https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resilience-facility_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 and vocabulary, but no text in Italian, so no translation unless you want to translate from French, German or Spanish into English!

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

2022

https://news.un.org/pages/annualreport-2022/

2021

https://unfccc.int/annual-report-2021

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 for note-taking

https://www.fao.org/home/en

and some articles in Italian and English. I searched for ‘theFAO articles in Italian and English and got this:

https://www.fao.org/common-pages/search/en/?q=2024

but you will have to check which ones that have been translated.

Some examples:

https://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/la-giornata-mondiale-delle-api-2024-si-rivolge-ai-giovani--futuri-apicoltori-e-sentinelle-dell-ambiente/it

https://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/fao-highlights-the-potential-of-ai-and-the-digital-revolution-to-transform-the-world-and-its-agrifood-systems/it

https://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/fao-highlights-the-potential-of-ai-and-the-digital-revolution-to-transform-the-world-and-its-agrifood-systems/en

https://www.fao.org/fao-italy/news-and-events/news-detail/civil7-summit--director-general-calls-for-tighter-collaboration-with-civil-society-to-tackle-discrimination-and-inequalities/it

https://www.fao.org/fao-italy/news-and-events/news-detail/civil7-summit--director-general-calls-for-tighter-collaboration-with-civil-society-to-tackle-discrimination-and-inequalities/en

There are also lots of articles on the FAO archive page

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

There‘s also the Bank of Italy site to explore

https://www.bancaditalia.it/

For example:

https://www.bancaditalia.it/pubblicazioni/bollettino-eco-bce/2023/bol-eco-4-2023/index.html?com.dotmarketing.htmlpage.language=1

https://www.bancaditalia.it/pubblicazioni/bollettino-eco-bce/2023/bol-eco-4-2023/index.html

NATO for note-taking

Start with the main page:

https://www.nato.int/

for example:

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_228115.htm

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_228160.htm?selectedLocale=en

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_225250.htm?selectedLocale=en

and regarding the history of Italy and NATO

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/declassified_162356.htm

Some useful expressions for essay writing

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_international_relations_terms

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

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

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

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

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

https://www.e-ir.info/2022/05/15/glossary-of-key-international-relations-terms/

https://academicmarker.com/academic-guidance/vocabulary/subject-specific-vocabulary/english-for-international-studies/what-are-the-top-100-international-relations-words/

https://www.economist.com/international-relations-a-to-z

https://www.e-ir.info/publication/beginners-textbook-international-relations/

file:///D:/Documents/SIOI%202024-5%20new%20stuff/International-Relations-2022-E-IR.pdf

https://www.vocabulary.com/lists/18367

Some more notes on makng a speech/giving a presentation

1) Depending on the level of formality, start by referring to those present by their titles.

e.g. Mr/Madam Ambassador, Your Excellency/ies, Mr/Madam Secretary-General, Mr/Madam President/ Mr/Madam Chairman/Chairwoman/Chairperson, Minister Tajani, Mr Prime Minister, esteemed/distinguished colleagues, members of the Diplomatic Corps, (dear colleagues if you know them well), Ladies and Gentlemen (the general public in the audience)

2) Say ‘Good morning/afternoon/evening and if you have been invited there to speak, thank the institute organizing the event (is it the same one hosting the event?) or if the Ministry or Embassy is organizing the event welcome the audience on their behalf if no-one has spoken before you.

3) Try to find an icebreaker to establish a rapport with your audience unless the event is extremely formal.

4) Think about your audience. Tailor your treatment of the topic to them. What do they know already about the topic? What don’t they know? What do you need to tell them? (Why have you been sent or invited there?) What is your main point, your message? What do they want to know? What is important to them?

5) Explain very briefly how you will deal with the topic, the way your presentation will be structured. Is it a classic speech or a PowerPoint presentation? Did you bring any material that they can pick up at the end?

6) Tell them how you will deal with questions. e.g. If anyone has any questions, can I ask you to save them to the end of my presentation as we will have time for a Q and A session then? Or If anyone has a question, pleasedon’t hesitate/ feel free to interrupt me at any point.

7) Can you make a reference to someone who spoke before you (or who is going to speak after you) to show respect and integrate your talk into the proceedings?

8) Have you brought anyone with you as an expert who will be available (as you will be) for more detailed questions during the (coffee/lunch)-break or at the end of the presentation/day?

9) At the end of your presentation, you could summarize what you have said, underlining your main point. Then thank the host again and invite questions if this is appropriate and what you planned.

10) Tell them that you hope they will enjoy the rest of the the event /conference /morning /afternoon. Perhaps offer them the chance to talk to you further or to contact you again.

Make sure your speech is interesting and informative and keeps your audience’s attention!

The main body of the speech should contain your main points, useful (relevant) data,examples and/or the names and outline of initiatives and programs launched by the MAECI, by the government through other ministries, the EU, NATO or the UN or other practical information as appropriate.