Shimmering Words MAGAZINE ISSN 2463-0403 USTA TUNJA Fr. Bernardo de Lugo, O.P. de Lugo, Bernardo Fr. TUNJA USTA LANGUAGES INSTITUTE 2017 LOCAL MANAGERS Fr. JORGE FERDINANDO RODRÍGUEZ RUIZ, O. P. Principal Fr. JAVIER ANTONIO CASTELLANOS, O.P. FR. BERNARDO DE LUGO, O.P. Vice Provost for Academic Affrairs LANGUAGES INSTITUTE Father JOSÉ ANTONIO BALAGUERA CEPEDA, O.P. Vice Provost Administrative – Financial Affairs Shimmering PRODUCTION TEAM Words LANGUAGES INSTITUTE DIRECTOR MAGAZINE Professor Victor Felipe Prada Hernández Magazine Editor Professor Gladis Leonor Arias Rodríguez Coeditor CREDITS Professor Eliana Edith Roberto Flórez Style Corrections Duncan Andrew Higgons Graphic Designer Santiago Suárez Varela OJS Manager Jorge Antonio Alvarado Rojas ISSN: 2463-0403 N°: 7 - 2017 |||||| THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING ANOTHER LANGUAGE resent times require the development of specific skill sets in order to respond to Pthe needs arising from globalization and knowledge acquisition is related to the use new trends; some of the most important skill sets of languages; according to the Oxford Royale are those related to means of communication, Academy, English is spoken in more countries because they have become some of the most than any other language, followed by others such prominent aspects of a modern lifestyle, due to as Arabic, Dutch and French among others. the constant exchange of information. Speaking other languages is a mandatory skill for people to develop, as it is necessary to succeed in So why learn English? communicating with people from many different countries. Keeping in mind that it is used worldwide, there are many reasons for learning this language: it Moreover, psychologists argue that learning gives you opportunities to make contact with two or more languages helps people develop people from different countries and learn about their cognitive process regarding of memory their culture; at work, you can demonstrate a improvement, context perceptivity and decision- great capacity for analysing different topics, making, all aspects that contribute to maximizing especially because English is considered the knowledge acquisition whilst also enabling language of business; a lot of knowledge is EDITORIAL a person’s development in their own field of available in this language and in education, study. We could have different perspectives and English can afford you a place in some of the needs for learning a foreign language, specially, best universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, depending on the requirement of our work Harvard and MIT among others; it can allow you environment and education system; nowadays, to participate in international events (congresses, conferences) and to have access to areas such as BY literature, science, sports, technology, religion, Gladis Leonor Arias Rodríguez politics and more; All of this demonstrates the USTA Tunja language teacher importance of acquiring this language. ADDRESSING RACISM AND THE USE OF THE “N” FEEDFORWARD WORD AMONG COLOMBIAN COLLEGE STUDENTS VS FEEDBACK 6-14 CONTENT COLOMBIAN PEACE, DREAM OR REALITY 15 TERRORISM: 20 A SOCIAL PROBLEM ISIS THE PAIN OF TERRORISM TODAY 16 30-33 TERRORISM: THE FEAR OF A LATENT THE DILEMMA OF SEX CHANGE AND PENSIONS 45 THREAT IN COLOMBIA THE PEACE PROCESS BETWEEN THE 51 GOVERNMENT AND THE FARC TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE IN THE PEACE PROCESS BETWEEN THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT AND FARC 34-36 WHO MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY DOPING IN CYCLING? 37 CYBER TERRORISM 40 56-59 ADDRESSING RACISM AND THE USE OF THE “N” WORD AMONG COLOMBIAN COLLEGE STUDENTS BY: ANNA C. PEÑALOZA USTA Tunja English teacher EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL““ WEAPON ONE CAN USE TO CHANGE THE WORLD Pictures retrieved from Google NELSON MANDELA Through a ten-hour anti-racism and the program, and 64% feel they can better ABSTRACT discrimination education program, make decisions about the use of the “n” International business and Law students word. From International business students, were able to understand the social and 67% strongly agree that what they learned cultural context of the “n” word. This was will influence their career positively. All done to address derogatory and racial students believe racism exists in Colombia, behaviors in the classroom that included the and they were able to demonstrate their use of the “n” word among college students own language connection to the “n” word. in the Universidad Santo Tomás, Tunja, This word connection diminished racism as Colombia. Students were surveyed after a whole in the classroom. 6 | SHIMMERING WORDS MAGAZINE / 2017 Additionally, Clark adds, “Children who are treated as if they are uneducable almost invariably become uneducable.” As an American teaching in Colombia, race is not considered a big issue like in The United States. Colombia is a land of many diversities. It boasts having the second- largest Afro-descendant population in Latin America (Davies, C. B., 2008). Unfortunately, Colombian people of Afro-descent do not have the same educational opportunities as white or mestizo children. “For high school, the situation substantially worsens, as 27% of Afro-Colombians ages 15 and 16 are not enrolled” (A., R. G., Sierra, T. A., Adarve, I. C., 2008). Furthermore, only 2% of Afro- Colombians have received higher education (Escobar, 2016). This is evident when only one out of every fifty students in my classroom is of Afro-descent. This causes detrimental effects for all races as college students are Education of Topeka, Kansas desegregated INTRODUCTION schools in the United States of America forever. Today, almost 54 years later, race is CHILDREN“ WHO ARE In his famous speech, Martin Luther King still an issue in the United States. Additionally, TREATED AS IF THEY Jr. said, “I have a dream that my four little it has detrimental effects on racial children will one day live in a nation where identification, self-worth, and education. ARE UNEDUCABLE they will not be judged by the color of their As Dr. Kenneth Clark concluded from the ALMOST INVARIABLY skin, but by the contents of their character.” Doll test “The majority of these children at BECOME UNEDUCABLE.“ This speech was given in 1963, nine years each age level indicate that the brown doll after the landmark case, Brown vs. Board of rather than the white doll ‘looks bad’” (1918). LANGUAGES INSTITUTE / USTA TUNJA | 7 not given the opportunity to interact with as the most controversial word in the English color, gender, abilities, etc. As Harper Lee anyone outside of their background. This language. This means that students are not writes, “Our courts have their faults, as does creates a one-sided opinion when race and using the “n” word to intentionally offend any human constitution, but in this country discrimination is brought up in the classroom. anyone, but they also do not understand our courts are the great levelers, and in our the cultural and historical connotation this courts all men are created equal.” (1960). This paper is written as a response to the particular word carries. use of the “n” word or nigger among a predominantly mestizo and white college A survey was conducted among 36 college community. As a native-born American, this students who received ten hours of anti- word raises a red flag as soon as it leaves racism and tolerance education. These anyone’s mouth. The use of the “n” word students are International business and “ has become mainstream among college Law majors. These majors were significantly THE STATED ARMED students in Tunja, and it is used to take the important because racial sensitivity could GROUPS AS WELL AS place of “negro” or “morenito” when referring play a big role in their professional careers. THOSE NON-STATED to a person of Afro-descent or dark skin. International business students must be As the word began to be addressed in the culturally aware and sensitive to the use of ARMED GROUPS,“ LIKE classroom, it became evident that students derogatory language in dealing with people THE FARC GUERRILLAS do not understand the cultural and social around the world. Law students must face aspects of this word, which has been denoted discriminatory cases and look beyond skin 8 | SHIMMERING WORDS MAGAZINE / 2017 METHODS Students from International business received ten hours of had the opportunity to participate in a debate and read the trail education in one week on the importance of tolerance and anti- in To Kill a Mockingbird. Below is a list of content and lesson racism. Students from Law also received ten hours of tolerance plans that each group saw during their educational period. and anti-racism education over a span of 4 weeks. Law students INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Plan Purpose Time Students will be able to see how stereotyping The story of the “Freedom Writers” causes racial tension, and how through tolerance 2 hours and journal entries and education barriers are broken. Students will be able to see and discuss the social “The ‘N’ Word” Episode 2 hours and cultural contexts of the “n” word. Students will design a campaign business plan to “Say Yes to Equality” Campaign Plan end discrimination and racism in the United States 6 hours of America and Colombia. LAW Plan Purpose Time Debate: Neal Lester v. Kayne West Students will take sides debating whether the “n” 2 hours v. NAACP v. NFL word should be banned. Students will be able to see and discuss the social “The ‘N’ Word” Episode 2 hours and cultural contexts of the “n” word. Students will get to know each other and understand In your shoes activity how life is like in each other’s shoes in order to learn 1 hour respect and tolerance in the classroom. Reading Chapters 18 – 22 Students will see how race affects the outcome of the case and how courage and justice play an 5 hours To Kill a Mockingbird important role in ending discrimination. LANGUAGES INSTITUTE / USTA TUNJA | 9 RESULTS TABLE 1: RESULTS FOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STUDENTS ON SURVEY CONDUCTED AFTER THE TEN-HOUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM.