Home | Department for General Assembly and Conference Management

Welcome to the United Nations Interpretation Service Speech Bank. This platform is aimed at interpreters, students, teachers and anyone who wishes to practice and/or prepare for interpretation tests and/or Competitive Exams for Language Positions (CELP).

The Speech Bank contains speeches that have been delivered at the United Nations as well as speeches on subjects frequently discussed at the United Nations. Speeches are categorized by language, length, level of difficulty (beginner, intermediate, advanced) and year. You may also search speeches by keyword or topic (e.g : climate change, SDGs...). All sound files are paired with their transcripts.

The Speech Bank also contains sets of previous competitive exams – that is, complete language sets and also individual speeches – this will enable you to familiarise yourself with these types of examinations.

An interpreter at work during the high-level virtual event on Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond.

UN Photo | Evan Schneider

Disclaimer: The speeches featured under this category constitute samples extracted from past exams which were specifically designed to meet duty stations’ recruitment needs and/or the Human Resources policies of the organization at the time. The duration, level of difficulty and distinct characteristics of speeches may vary from one exam to the next. All exams are administered by the Office of Human Resources Management.