My experience in Oslo

 My experience in Oslo

After visiting Hamburg, I went to Oslo in Norway because my flight for getting back home was going to leave from there. 

When I arrived in Oslo, I left my luggage at hostel which was a little inconveniently located as it was twenty-minute walk away from the city centre.

The next day, I took the sightseeing bus as I had an imprecise idea of what I could visit, so it was going to be unforgivable to be incapable to see the most important city landmarks while being there.

What I liked most was the old town which seemed to be unrealistic as it was part of a fairy tale.

I also visited the opera house which was overcrowded since it was the main attraction and located next to a beach.

As it was summer and Oslo is not so big, the number of tourists outnumbered the locals, who love to interact with the visitors.

Unfortunately, I was unable to go to the Alps. However, I hope to come back soon there.

Partiiciple clauses

 

TEFL volunteers in Lugano Switzerland

Source: https://www.gooverseas.com/sites/default/files/styles/494x342_scale_crop/public/volunteer/feb-8-2016/138122-travelnstudy.jpg?itok=j4oZ4XMk

What other Swiss-city names do you know?

Complete the following story in teams imagining a group travel with some English classmates while being stuck in a city because of technical issues and using the given phrases.

Once in a Eurotour, I was going from Zurich, Switzerland to Hamburg, Germany by train, but I had to change trains in Basel, Switzerland. Unfortunately, my train in Zurich departed in delay, so some unexpected situations occurred.

Having arrived in Basel, ______________.

Having realised we lost the connection to Hamburg,  ____________.

A blonde girl, wearing a white t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans,  ________________.

Stuck in Basel,  __________.

Having been given our new train ticket the next day, ____________.

Waiting for our new connection,  _________.

Ending, learning or lesson

My story

Once in a Eurotour, I was going from Zurich, Switzerland to Hamburg, Germany by train, but I had to change trains in Basel, Switzerland. Unfortunately, my train in Zurich departed in delay, so some unexpected situations occurred.

Having arrived in Basel, I was told that I should wait for the next train to Hamburg which was going to be next morning. 

Having realised I lost the connection to Hamburg, I started to yell because I was not going to use the sleeping car for which I paid a lot.

A blonde girl, wearing a white t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans, asked me why I was yelling and told me that I should get relaxed.

Stuck in Basel, I decided to go outside and walk around the train station. As it was so cold, I changed my mind; so I came back and took three seats in the waiting room for sleeping.

Having been given my new train ticket the next day, the costumer service agent said it was unbelievable what I happened because the Swiss train service was considered one the best one in the world.

Waiting for my new connection, I wished I had better taken a flight. Consequently, I deeply regretted not having done so.

Ending, learning or lesson

Thinking about my experience, I would never take into account a night train service anymore since I wouldn't like to live something similar again. On the other hand, not sleeping well when travelling is something I really hate.

Written by Elmer Santana

Video about Basel

Types of Participle Clauses

1.- Present participle active (-ing)

Waiting for my new connection, I wished I had better taken a flight.

This type of participle clauses are used for two-event clauses that be related to each other in different ways:

a) to express a cause:

Realising the mountain top was covered in mist, we decided to turn back. (Because we realised...)

The participle clause, which states the cause, normally comes first.

b) for describing the subject of the main clause:

The volunteers arrived at the clinic feeling a little nervous.

c) two simultaneous events with the same subject:

The woman hurried after her dog, calling to him to come back.

d) one event happening during another:

The new volunteer hurt himself (while) playing football.

2.- The past participle (-ed)

Stuck in Basel, I decided to go outside.

It has a passive sense, for exmple, 'Stuck in Basel refers to 'I was stuck in Basel'. However, this type particple clause can be used in the following cases:

a) to express a cause:

Ignored by the other children, the boy played by himself. (= Because he was ignored ...)

 The participle clause usually comes first. 

b) for description: 

Surrounded on three sides by mountains, the village rarely enjoys much sunshine. 

c) to express a condition: 

Kept in a cool place, yoghurt will remain fresh for a long time. (= If yoghurt is kept in a cool place ...) 

3.- The perfect participle, active (having -ed)

Having realised I lost the connection to Hamburg, I started to yell.

 It is used to show that the event of the participle clause happened first.

4.- The perfect participle, passive (having been -ed) 

Having been given my new train ticket the next day, the costumer service agent said it was unbelievable what I happened.

It is used when the action of the participle clause happens before the action of the main clause and the participle clause usually comes first.

Source: https://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=13317

Collaborative exercises 1 and 3 on page 18

Online exercise about participle clauses

https://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=13317

The Role of Graphic Design in Social Media Marketing

The Importance of Graphic Design in Social Media Marketing

 

In the world of social media marketing, graphic design is a key element for creating content that attracts attention and drives engagement. Good design communicates the message clearly, makes a brand memorable, and enhances the overall user experience (UX). However, not all social media designs are the same. While some brands focus on minimalist designs with simple typography and a limited color palette, others prefer to use vibrant and bold elements to stand out. These differences highlight the variety of approaches to visual content.

 

Branding, for example, is often defined by how well a logo represents a brand's identity. Some companies prefer clean, simple logos with a focus on legibility, whereas others create complex designs that feature various graphic elements. In contrast, a mockup is a tool used by designers to visualize how a finished design will appear on a device, whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, or desktop. Mockups often include a simple background to emphasize the design, whereas the actual content might include social media ads with colorful backgrounds and bold text to grab attention.

 

One major distinction in social media design is the approach to user interface (UI). On platforms like Facebook and Instagram, the UI design may seem similar, but the size and layout of images vary. For instance, Instagram prioritizes square images for posts, while Facebook allows rectangular images. Nevertheless, both platforms require designers to pay careful attention to layout to ensure that images and text are balanced. A well-designed post not only attracts attention but also encourages engagement, whether through likes, comments, or shares.

 

However, it's important to recognize that good design doesn’t always guarantee success. Despite having excellent visuals, some social media ads fail to attract the desired response. On the other hand, some ads with a more basic design receive high engagement because the content resonates with the audience. This contrast highlights the fact that while design plays a critical role, other factors such as the message and target audience can also influence the effectiveness of a post.

Vocabulary Practice:

https://wordwall.net/es/resource/87449493

Reading Comprehension Exercise:

https://www.topworksheets.com/t/ph0phXNJlaD

Listening Exercise about cooking verbs

Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Grilled Chicken and Sautéed Vegetables

Listening Exercise about cooking verbs:

https://www.topworksheets.com/t/7laGKe9MCR4

Recording link:

https://lasallecancun-my.sharepoint.com/:u:/g/personal/dc0519_lasallecancun_edu_mx/Ec71FvkeA45PmLdnGrolBvwB7fQu-G7PB8tFXUhlu3WPQQ?nav=eyJyZWZlcnJhbEluZm8iOnsicmVmZXJyYWxBcHAiOiJPbmVEcml2ZUZvckJ1c2luZXNzIiwicmVmZXJyYWxBcHBQbGF0Zm9ybSI6IldlYiIsInJlZmVycmFsTW9kZSI6InZpZXciLCJyZWZlcnJhbFZpZXciOiJNeUZpbGVzTGlua0NvcHkifX0&e=4MRtis