This book is a collection of speeches and exercises meant to be used as a basis for practical activities during the applied sessions of Simultaneous Interpretation for International Relations in English and German, which the graduate students of the Master’s Programme for Specialised Translation and Interpretation (MATIS) study and practice during their third out of the four semesters foreseen by the curriculum.

The book is structured into three chapters. Chapter I contains twenty-two political speeches in its  English version, and twenty political speeches in its German version. Chapter II has the same number of diplomatic speeches in English, and German, while Chapter III contains a number of study and practice activities based on the speeches collected in the first two chapters, but it is not restricted to them.

The reason behind this structure is a thematic one. International relations, the main area of focus for developing and honing simultaneous interpretation skills in the third semester of the MATIS programme comprises two thematic areas broadly speaking: politics and diplomacy.

The speeches selected were delivered by high-ranking European and German officials, at various international events and functions.

The speeches have been selected from the data bases of the European Institutions and the Federal Government of the German Republic and are available publicly for educational purposes. The source has been indicated at the end of each speech along with the source for the video material, whenever it was found publicly available.

The type of material selected is restricted to speeches only, as they are meant to be used as practice material for simultaneous intrepretation, and as such, this type of material is best suited for this kind of practice, in terms of oral characteristics and style.

The length of the specific units of practice may vary and is not restricted to the actual length of the speeches themselves. It is to be established by the user(s) according to the particular needs, objectives and purpose established for any particular activity or training session.