The boss of a company called Airbnb talked about how some people think his company makes it hard to find a place to live in big cities. He said that Airbnb does not mean to cause problems, but sometimes things happen that they did not expect. He wants to make sure they listen to the cities and fix any problems caused by many people using Airbnb.

Airbnb had to change what it does in New York City because of new rules. These rules made it hard for Airbnb to let people stay in homes for just a few days. Now, Airbnb is focusing on letting people stay for longer times. Also, more people are booking places to stay in areas near New York, like New Jersey and Connecticut. The boss also talked about new things for people who use Airbnb, like picking their favorite places to stay and knowing more about the homes they can rent.

Even though New York City made it tough for Airbnb, the boss thinks his company will still do well. He believes people will always want to visit New York. Also, because of the new rules, people might travel to different cities. This could be good for Airbnb in those other places.

Original news source: Airbnb boss ‘listening’ to cities’ housing concerns (BBC)

Listen

Slow

Normal

Fast

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Students will work in pairs. One student will be the Airbnb company boss, and the other will be a news reporter. The “boss” will share information about the recent changes in Airbnb’s operations due to new rules in New York City, while the “reporter” will ask questions to get more details. After a few minutes, they will switch roles.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key words from the article (e.g., “company,” “big cities,” “rules,” “booking,” “rent”) on separate pieces of paper. Students will take turns drawing the words on the board without speaking or writing any letters or numbers, while other students guess the vocabulary word.

– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Create a line in the classroom with one end labeled “Strongly Agree” and the other end labeled “Strongly Disagree.” Read out statements such as “Airbnb makes it hard to find a place to live in big cities” or “New rules are good for Airbnb’s business in the long run.” Students will place themselves along the line to show their opinion and then discuss their reasons with classmates nearby.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Split the students into small groups and ask them to create a catchy newspaper headline that summarizes the Airbnb situation in New York City. Encourage them to use expressive adjectives and strong verbs. Afterward, groups can share their headlines with the class, and the class can vote on the most effective one.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have students write a short paragraph predicting the future of Airbnb and its impact on travel and accommodation in big cities. They can consider aspects such as the economy, tourism, and local regulations. Afterwards, students can share their predictions with the class, and discuss similarities and differences in their viewpoints.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What does the boss of Airbnb say some people think about his company?
2. What does the boss want to do about the problems caused by Airbnb?
3. What changes did Airbnb have to make in New York City?
4. Why did Airbnb have to make these changes?
5. Where are more people booking places to stay because of the new rules in New York City?
6. What are some new things Airbnb is offering to people who use it?
7. Does the boss of Airbnb think his company will do well even with the tough rules in New York City? Why?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The boss of a company called Airbnb talked about how some people think his company (1)______s it hard to find a place to live in big cities. He said that Airbnb does not mean to (2)______ problems, but sometimes things (3)______ that they did not expect. He wants to make sure they listen to the cities and fix any problems caused by many people using Airbnb.

Airbnb had to (4)______ what it does in New York City because of new rules. These rules made it hard for Airbnb to let people stay in homes for just a few (5)______. Now, Airbnb is (6)______ on letting people stay for longer times. Also, more people are booking places to stay in (7)______ near New York, like New Jersey and Connecticut. The boss also talked about new things for people who use (8)______, like picking their favorite places to stay and (9)______ more about the homes they can rent.

Even though New (10)______ City made it tough for Airbnb, the boss thinks his company will still do well. He believes people will always want to (11)______ New York. Also, because of the new rules, people might (12)______ to different cities. This could be good for Airbnb in those other places.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is Airbnb?
2. Have you ever stayed in an Airbnb place? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if it was hard to find a house because of a company like Airbnb?
4. Do you think it’s important for companies to listen to cities’ problems? Why?
5. Would you like to rent a home for just a few days or for a long time? Why?
6. Do you think new rules are good for cities? Why or why not?
7. Have you ever visited a place near a big city, like New Jersey near New York? What was it like?
8. What do you like to know about a home before you stay there?
9. Do you think traveling to different cities is fun? Why?
10. If you were the boss of a company with a problem, what would you do to fix it?
11. Do you like the idea of having favorite places to stay when you travel? Why?
12. Do you think it’s a good idea for Airbnb to focus on longer stays now? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Airbnb
2. rules
3. longer
4. areas
5. tough
6. visit
7. different
8. places

Meanings:
(a) A company that helps people find places to stay
(b) Things you have to follow
(c) Locations or regions where you can go
(d) Hard or difficult
(e) Regions or locations
(f) More time than before
(g) Go to see a new city or country
(h) Not the same, but another one
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the company mentioned in the article?
(a) Expedia
(b) Booking.com
(c) TripAdvisor
(d) Airbnb

2. Why did Airbnb have to change what it does in New York City?
(a) Because of new rules
(b) Because of bad reviews
(c) Because of a lack of customers
(d) Because of a change in leadership

3. What is Airbnb focusing on in New York City now?
(a) Letting people stay for longer times
(b) Letting people stay for shorter times
(c) Letting people stay for free
(d) Letting people stay in luxury hotels

4. In which areas near New York are more people booking places to stay?
(a) California and Texas
(b) Florida and Illinois
(c) New Jersey and Connecticut
(d) Washington and Oregon

5. What did the boss talk about for people who use Airbnb?
(a) Getting discounts on flights
(b) Renting cars for their trips
(c) Finding the best restaurants in the area
(d) Picking their favorite places to stay and knowing more about the homes they can rent

6. Why does the boss believe his company will still do well, despite the new rules in New York City?
(a) Because people don’t like to travel
(b) Because other companies are doing better
(c) Because people will always want to visit New York
(d) Because the company is not doing well

7. According to the boss, what might happen because of the new rules in New York City?
(a) People might stop using Airbnb
(b) People might travel to different cities
(c) People might stay in hotels instead
(d) People might not travel at all

8. What could be good for Airbnb in other places, according to the article?
(a) People not traveling at all
(b) People traveling to different cities
(c) People staying in hotels
(d) People using other vacation rental companies

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Airbnb had the freedom to maintain its operations in New York City despite new rules.
2. Even though New York City made it tough for Airbnb, the boss thinks his company will still do well.
3. These rules made it easy for Airbnb to allow people to stay in homes for just a few days.
4. The boss also talked about new things for people who use Airbnb, like picking their favorite places to stay and knowing more about the homes they can rent.
5. He said that Airbnb does not mean to cause problems, but sometimes things happen that they did not expect.
6. Now, Airbnb is focusing on letting people stay for longer times.
7. The boss of Airbnb mentioned how many people believe his company makes it easy to find a place to live in big cities.
8. He believes people will never want to visit New York.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What problem do some people say Airbnb is causing in big cities?
2. What does the boss of Airbnb want to do about the problems?
3. What changes did Airbnb make in New York City?
4. Where are people booking places to stay because of the new rules in New York?
5. Does the boss of Airbnb think his company will still be successful? Why?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What does the boss of Airbnb say some people think about his company?
The boss says some people think Airbnb makes it hard to find homes in big cities.

2. What does the boss want to do about the problems caused by Airbnb?
The boss wants to listen to the cities and fix any problems caused by Airbnb.

3. What changes did Airbnb have to make in New York City?
Airbnb had to start letting people stay for longer times instead of just a few days.

4. Why did Airbnb have to make these changes?
They had to make these changes because New York City made new rules that were hard for Airbnb.

5. Where are more people booking places to stay because of the new rules in New York City?
More people are booking places in New Jersey and Connecticut because of the new rules.

6. What are some new things Airbnb is offering to people who use it?
Airbnb is letting people pick their favorite places to stay and learn more about the homes they can rent.

7. Does the boss of Airbnb think his company will do well even with the tough rules in New York City? Why?
Yes, the boss thinks Airbnb will do well because people will always want to visit New York, and the new rules might make people travel to different cities which is good for Airbnb.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) make
(2) cause
(3) happen
(4) change
(5) days
(6) focusing
(7) areas
(8) Airbnb
(9) knowing
(10) York
(11) visit
(12) travel
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Airbnb
Answer: (a) A company that helps people find places to stay

2. rules
Answer: (b) Things you have to follow

3. longer
Answer: (f) More time than before

4. areas
Answer: (e) Regions or locations

5. tough
Answer: (d) Hard or difficult

6. visit
Answer: (g) Go to see a new city or country

7. different
Answer: (h) Not the same, but another one

8. places
Answer: (c) Locations or regions where you can go
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the company mentioned in the article?
Answer: (d) Airbnb

2. Why did Airbnb have to change what it does in New York City?
Answer: (a) Because of new rules

3. What is Airbnb focusing on in New York City now?
Answer: (a) Letting people stay for longer times

4. In which areas near New York are more people booking places to stay?
Answer: (c) New Jersey and Connecticut

5. What did the boss talk about for people who use Airbnb?
Answer: (d) Picking their favorite places to stay and knowing more about the homes they can rent

6. Why does the boss believe his company will still do well, despite the new rules in New York City?
Answer: (c) Because people will always want to visit New York

7. According to the boss, what might happen because of the new rules in New York City?
Answer: (b) People might travel to different cities

8. What could be good for Airbnb in other places, according to the article?
Answer: (b) People traveling to different cities
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Airbnb had the freedom to maintain its operations in New York City despite new rules. (Answer: False)
2. Even though New York City made it tough for Airbnb, the boss thinks his company will still do well. (Answer: True)
3. These rules made it easy for Airbnb to allow people to stay in homes for just a few days. (Answer: False)
4. The boss also talked about new things for people who use Airbnb, like picking their favorite places to stay and knowing more about the homes they can rent. (Answer: True)
5. He said that Airbnb does not mean to cause problems, but sometimes things happen that they did not expect. (Answer: True)
6. Now, Airbnb is focusing on letting people stay for longer times. (Answer: True)
7. The boss of Airbnb mentioned how many people believe his company makes it easy to find a place to live in big cities. (Answer: False)
8. He believes people will never want to visit New York. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧