What We Do
The High School Foreign Service Association brings guest speakers – Officers of the U.S. Foreign Service – to schools with chapters. Speakers share their inside knowledge on the art of diplomacy and the internal processes of international relations, experiences of working in different environments and taking up on various roles in an embassy, and thoughts on pressing questions in foreign policy, offering their thorough understanding of the world of international relations to students.
Guest speakers are provided in cooperation with the American Foreign Service Association. With 80% of all U.S. Foreign Service Officers in its ranks, it is practically guaranteed that a qualified Officer will be found for any topic on international relations.
Take a look at our HSFSA guest speaker sample topic list to see examples of what topics they can cover!
Guest speakers are provided in cooperation with the American Foreign Service Association. With 80% of all U.S. Foreign Service Officers in its ranks, it is practically guaranteed that a qualified Officer will be found for any topic on international relations.
Take a look at our HSFSA guest speaker sample topic list to see examples of what topics they can cover!
Why it matters:
1.) Guest speakers and materials provided by the American Foreign Service Association reveal the inner workings of diplomacy. Learning from the first-hand, world-class experience of real diplomats and ambassadors who defend U.S. interests in every corner of the world, students acquire knowledge gleaned from years of patriotic service.
2.) Guest Speakers discuss the latest tendencies in international relations in our multi-polar world and share their expertise in foreign policy. Debates and discussions hosted by HSFSA Chapters allow students to put this knowledge to use by developing a much deeper understanding of current events.
3.) High School Foreign Service Association events inspire students to stay aware about the international situation and the role of the U.S. Foreign Service Officers share their passion for diplomacy and provide role-models, motivating students to strive for excellence and helping them to collaborate more with their peers and even to decide on a career path.
1.) Guest speakers and materials provided by the American Foreign Service Association reveal the inner workings of diplomacy. Learning from the first-hand, world-class experience of real diplomats and ambassadors who defend U.S. interests in every corner of the world, students acquire knowledge gleaned from years of patriotic service.
2.) Guest Speakers discuss the latest tendencies in international relations in our multi-polar world and share their expertise in foreign policy. Debates and discussions hosted by HSFSA Chapters allow students to put this knowledge to use by developing a much deeper understanding of current events.
3.) High School Foreign Service Association events inspire students to stay aware about the international situation and the role of the U.S. Foreign Service Officers share their passion for diplomacy and provide role-models, motivating students to strive for excellence and helping them to collaborate more with their peers and even to decide on a career path.
Guest Speakers
Working with the American Foreign Service Association, HSFSA chapters are provided with copies of the book "Inside A U.S. Embassy: Diplomacy At Work" and monthly deliveries of new editions of the Foreign Service Journal.
The Foreign Service Journal, released by the American Foreign Service Association every month covers foreign affairs from an insider’s perspective, providing thought-provoking articles on international issues, the practice of diplomacy and the U.S. Foreign Service.
"Inside A U.S. Embassy: Diplomacy At Work" provides insight on the work of Foreign Service Officers and display what life as a Diplomat is really like:
"In addition to profiles of diplomats and specialists around the world—from the ambassador to the consular officer, the public diplomacy officer to the security specialist—is a selection from more than twenty countries of day-in-the-life accounts, each describing an actual day on the job. Personal reports from the field give a sense of the extraordinary challenges—the coups, the natural disasters, the civil wars—and rewards of representing America to the world."
The Foreign Service Journal, released by the American Foreign Service Association every month covers foreign affairs from an insider’s perspective, providing thought-provoking articles on international issues, the practice of diplomacy and the U.S. Foreign Service.
"Inside A U.S. Embassy: Diplomacy At Work" provides insight on the work of Foreign Service Officers and display what life as a Diplomat is really like:
"In addition to profiles of diplomats and specialists around the world—from the ambassador to the consular officer, the public diplomacy officer to the security specialist—is a selection from more than twenty countries of day-in-the-life accounts, each describing an actual day on the job. Personal reports from the field give a sense of the extraordinary challenges—the coups, the natural disasters, the civil wars—and rewards of representing America to the world."
Foreign Service Journal and Inside A U.S. Embassy
Internal Events
Mini-MUN
With a greater focus on students learning from their peers, group discussions ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.
Students assemble in a classroom and discuss a current or past event in international relations. Participants take turns to speak for 1 minute each to deliver their thoughts and ideas.
The 1-minute speaking time limit offers an incentive to speak clearly, concisely, and persuasively in such a short time frame. The constant rotation of speakers allows for an extremely flexible and fruitful conversation between peers.
Students assemble in a classroom and discuss a current or past event in international relations. Participants take turns to speak for 1 minute each to deliver their thoughts and ideas.
The 1-minute speaking time limit offers an incentive to speak clearly, concisely, and persuasively in such a short time frame. The constant rotation of speakers allows for an extremely flexible and fruitful conversation between peers.
HSFSA chapters host Mini-Model UN committees to provide valuable practice opportunities to students already participating Model UN and an opportunity to try the activity out for those who are only starting.
Mini-MUN committees involve almost all aspects of a Model UN General Assembly. Students have the opportunity to practice making speeches in moderated caucuses, networking with delegates in unmoderated caucuses, writing resolutions, and more. Mini-MUN committees can help any MUN club with an HSFSA chapter keep its members ready for conferences!
Mini-MUN committees involve almost all aspects of a Model UN General Assembly. Students have the opportunity to practice making speeches in moderated caucuses, networking with delegates in unmoderated caucuses, writing resolutions, and more. Mini-MUN committees can help any MUN club with an HSFSA chapter keep its members ready for conferences!
An engaging and competitive way for students to combine persuasion, public-speaking, research, and critical-thinking skills while speaking about a topic they love.
HSFSA Group Debates require teamwork, quick thinking, and thorough understanding of the topic to emerge victorious.
Students are divided into two equal teams of 1-3 students: one against, and one for the topic covering current development in international relations. With only 10 minutes to prepare, they must use everything they have to win!
HSFSA Group Debates require teamwork, quick thinking, and thorough understanding of the topic to emerge victorious.
Students are divided into two equal teams of 1-3 students: one against, and one for the topic covering current development in international relations. With only 10 minutes to prepare, they must use everything they have to win!
Group Debates
To provide students and chapter leaders with more frequent and more participatory means to share ideas, learn from each other, and practice the various skills involved in debate and Model UN, High School Foreign Service Association chapters host Group Debates, Discussions, and Mini-MUN committees. For details on organizing the following events, please take a look at the HSFSA Event Handbook.
Discussions
