A Room in Bole: Why Is He Helping Someone He Just Met?
Practise B1 English with Lily and Dawit’s Addis Ababa conversation about a room in Bole: ask about location, price, breakfast and internet, and check details politely.
Lily and Dawit meet again unexpectedly in Addis Ababa, near a café and a roundabout, after she thought they had said goodbye. When Dawit suggests that she stay in his cousin Salam’s room in Bole instead of going to her hotel, Lily has to listen closely, weigh the offer and ask why he is helping someone he has only just met.
This B1 lesson uses that friendly accommodation conversation to practise precise questions about location, nightly price, breakfast and internet. You will also work on comparing a guest room with a hotel, checking details with natural follow-up questions and explaining a simple reason for offering help. The chance meeting gives the language a clear purpose: you hear how polite questions sound in a real travel exchange rather than in a list. Start the lesson and practise asking about a room, then answer the same questions aloud with details from your own trip.
What you'll learn
- Form questions about a room’s location, price, meals and internet access.
- Use comparison language to contrast a guest room with a hotel.
- Respond to follow-up questions with relevant, specific details.
- Give a short personal reason when explaining why you are helping someone.
Language focus
- Accommodation enquiry questions: location, nightly rate, breakfast and internet.
- Polite follow-ups for checking what is included and comparing options.
- Reason questions and simple explanations for offering help.
- Everyday accommodation vocabulary: rent, booking, deposit, guest and gate.
- Contact and booking follow-up language as a secondary skill.
English transcript
New dialogues and stories every day, available in 21 subtitle languages.
You can practice all these dialogues sentence by sentence using the interactive player on our website.
Link in the description.
Well, this is strange.
I thought I said goodbye to you 10 minutes ago.
I did, and I walked to the cafe for my shift.
But then I saw you standing here, and I remembered something.
What did you remember?
My cousin just called me.
She has a room free from today, and I thought of you.
Really?
But I already said I was going to the hotel.
I know, but you also said you wanted to understand daily life here.
A hotel will not show you that.
That is true, but why did you come back to find me?
Because you were kind and because you listened.
Not every visitor does that.
So you ran after me just to tell me about this room?
I did not run.
I walked quickly.
You were easy to find since you stopped at the roundabout.
I stopped because I was looking at the map on my phone.
I was a little lost, actually.
Then it is good that I found you.
The hotel is in the other direction.
Of course it is.
So tell me about this room.
Where is it exactly?
It is in Bolle, in the same building where my cousin lives with her family.
And she rents one room to guests?
Is that common here?
It is becoming common.
Many families earn extra money this way.
I see.
And how much does she ask for one night?
About $25.
And she includes breakfast.
That is cheaper than my hotel.
What kind of breakfast?
Eggs, bread, fruit, and coffee, of course.
Real Ethiopian coffee.
You know how to convince a person, but I have never used Airbnb before.
It is simple.
I can help you with the booking, and my cousin can meet you at the gate.
And the internet?
I still have to work a few hours every day this week.
It is fast.
Other guests have worked from there without any problems.
All right, let me ask you one honest question first.
Go ahead.
I will answer honestly.
Why are you doing this for me?
We met an hour ago.
Because you asked about my life, not only about the churches and the museums.
I was curious.
Your story stayed with me after we said goodbye.
And your questions stayed with me too.
So when my cousin called, I thought of you.
That is a good reason.
So what do we do now?
First, we exchange numbers.
Then I send you the link and you book the room And what about my hotel booking I paid a deposit You can cancel before noon and you will lose only a small part of it Fine.
Give me your phone and I'll type my number.
Here it is.
Write your name clearly so I do not mix it up with other contacts.
Done.
Now send me the link and I will book the room right here.
I am sending it now.
My cousin's name is Salam.
She will answer quickly.
Salaam.
That is a beautiful name.
What does it mean?
It means peace.
My aunt chose it because Salaam was born during a quiet time.
I like that.
So should I message her directly, or will you tell her first?
I will call her now, and then you can write to her.
That is more polite.
Good.
While you call, I'll cancel the hotel.
Do it now, before you forget.
The morning goes quickly here.
You sound like my father.
He says the same thing about mornings.
Then your father is a wise man.
My father says it too.
So we are both children of wise fathers.
That's a good start for a friendship.
I agree.
Now, one more thing before I go back to work.
What is it?
If you like the room, tell Salam that I sent you.
It matters to her.
I will.
And tomorrow, if you finish work at 5, maybe you can show me the city.
I finish at 5, and I would like that.
We can meet near the church in Belay.
Perfect.
I'll message you after I check the room.
Please do.
And Lily, welcome again to Addis Ababa.
Thank you, Doit.
I'm glad you came back.
So am I. See you tomorrow, and good luck with the booking.
See you tomorrow.
Say hello to Salam from me.
I will.
Take care, and do not get lost again.
No promises.
But now I have your number so I can always call you.
That is true.
Goodbye for now, Lily.
Goodbye for now, Dawit.
This time it's not a real goodbye.
You can practice all these dialogues sentence by sentence using the interactive player on our website.
Link in the description.
Up next, the lesson based on this dialogue.
If you want to skip it, just jump to the next scene.
Good morning!
Today we will practice English with a conversation between Lily and Dawit in Addis Ababa, near a cafe and a roundabout.
Listen carefully and repeat after me.
first sentence I thought I said goodbye to you ten minutes ago Repeat I thought I said goodbye to you ten minutes ago Good In that sentence a useful phrase is said goodbye to Here are five examples Example 1.
I said goodbye to my friend at the station.
I said goodbye to my friend at the station.
Example 2.
She said goodbye to her parents before the flight.
She said goodbye to her parents before the flight.
Example 3.
He said goodbye to everyone and left the party.
Example 4.
We said goodbye to the old house and moved.
Example 5.
Did you say goodbye to your teacher after class?
class?
I understand.
It means to leave someone and say a friendly word.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
I know, but you also said you wanted to understand daily life here.
I know, but you also said you wanted to understand daily life here.
Good.
A useful phrase there is daily life.
Here are five examples.
Example 1, I want to understand daily life in a new city.
I want to understand daily life in a new city.
Example 2, daily life here is busy but friendly.
Daily life here is busy but friendly.
Example 3, the book describes daily life in a small village.
The book describes daily life in a small village.
Example four, her daily life includes work, cooking, and long walks.
Her daily life includes work, cooking, and long walks.
Example five, we talked about daily life, not only famous places.
We talked about daily life, not only famous places.
I understand.
It means the ordinary things people do every day.
Exactly.
Next sentence, it is in bole.
in the same building where my cousin lives with her family.
It is in Bolle, in the same building where my cousin lives with her family.
Good.
A useful phrase is the same building where.
Here are five examples.
Example 1.
My aunt lives in the same building where I grew up.
My aunt lives in the same building where I grew up.
Example 2.
He works in the same building where his father worked.
He works in the same building where his father worked.
Example 3.
They opened a shop in the same building where the bank used to be.
Example 4.
I stayed in the same building where my friends were staying Example 5 She teaches in the same building where my friends were staying I stayed in the same building where my friends were staying Example 5 She teaches in the same building where her sister studies She teaches in the same building where her sister studies.
I understand.
It connects a place with the person or thing there.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
About $25 and she includes breakfast.
About $25, and she includes breakfast.
Good.
A useful phrase is includes breakfast.
Here are five examples.
Example 1.
The price includes breakfast and free coffee.
The price includes breakfast and free coffee.
Example 2.
Our hotel room includes breakfast on the rooftop.
Our hotel room includes breakfast on the rooftop.
Example 3.
This tour includes breakfast and a city walk.
Example 4.
The ticket includes breakfast for one person.
Example 5.
Her room rate includes breakfast every morning.
I understand.
It means breakfast comes with the price.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
Why are you doing this for me?
Why are you doing this for me?
Good.
A useful phrase is doing this for me.
Here are five examples.
Example 1.
Thank you for doing this for me.
Thank you for doing this for me.
Example 2.
He is doing this for me because I asked.
He is doing this for me because I asked.
Example 3.
Why are you doing this for me today?
Example 4.
She is doing this for me, not for money.
Example 5.
I can't believe you are doing this for me.
I can't believe you are doing this for me.
I understand.
It means someone is helping me personally.
Exactly.
Today we practiced said goodbye to, daily life, the same building where, includes breakfast, and doing this for me.
These phrases come from Lily and Dawit's conversation in Addis Ababa.
Keep listening and repeating, and you'll use them naturally.
Thank you.
I enjoyed practicing with Lily and Dawit, and I will remember these phrases.
New Dialogues and Stories Every Day, available in 21 subtitle languages.
You can practice all these dialogues sentence by sentence using the interactive player on our website.
Link in the description.