Everyday Echoes · Role Play · A2/B1 · 50 min

Checking into a Hotel

You are tired. It was a long day. Now you are at a nice hotel — time to check in, ask for a few things, and be polite.

This is the easier version. Want the harder one? → Full B2/C1 version →

The Scene 🎬

It is late in the evening. You travelled all day, and you are very tired. Now you are at a nice hotel. You will stay here for three nights.

You booked the room online, so that part is easy. But you want a few small things: a room on a higher floor, where it is quiet, and a late checkout on your last day, because your train is in the evening. You do not need these things — but if you ask nicely, you can often get them.

Behind the desk is the receptionist. They are friendly and want to help. Later, there is one problem: your room is cold. But that is fine — you can ask for help, politely.

Warm up — talk for one minute

  1. Do you like hotels? What makes a hotel good for you — the room, the breakfast, or the people?
  2. When you want something (a better table, a quiet room), do you ask, or do you say nothing? Why?

Who's who

You
The Guest 🧳

Tired, but friendly and polite. You want your room, two small things, and — when the room is cold — some help.

The other person
The Receptionist 🛎️

Kind and helpful. They can give you a better room, a late checkout, and a nice welcome — if you are polite.

Next: learn the phrases you need in the next tab. Then see them in a real conversation. Look at the polite words: please, thank you, I would like, can I. These small words do a lot of work.

Useful Phrases 🧰

Here are the phrases for this conversation. Read each one and say it out loud once. Choose the ones you like. Keep this page open when you practise.

The shape of this conversation
1 · Arrive2 · Ask for things3 · A problem4 · Say thank you
It's a map, not a script. Real talk can skip steps or go back.
Cover it later, when you want to test yourself.

When you're the guest

🛎 Arrive
"I have a booking. My name is Okafor."
"Here is my passport."
🌟 Ask for things
"I would like a room on a higher floor, please."
"Is a late checkout possible?"
🌧 A problem
"Excuse me, there is a problem with my room."
"The heating doesn't work."
💛 Say thank you
"That's very kind. Thank you."
"Thank you so much!"

When you're the receptionist

"Do you have a booking?"
"Can I have your passport, please?"
"Your room is on the eighth floor."
"I'm sorry about that."

When something changes

"Is breakfast included?"
"What time is breakfast?"
"Where is the lift?"

When you need help

"Sorry, can you say that again, please?"
"Can you speak more slowly, please?"
"Do you mean…?"
"How do you say … in English?"

Speed round 🎯

Draw a card. Say what you would say, out loud. Then look at one answer.

Press the button to start.

Try a few more rounds with the toolkit covered. When it feels easy, you are ready.

The Conversation 💬

Read it out loud, one person each, then change. Find the phrases from your toolkit. Listen for the polite words.

ReceptionistGood evening, and welcome! Do you have a booking?
YouYes, I do. I have a booking. My name is Okafor — three nights, please.
ReceptionistOkafor… yes, here it is. A double room, three nights, with breakfast. Can I have your card and your passport, please?
YouHere you are. Can I ask for something? I would like a room on a higher floor, please. I am a light sleeper.
ReceptionistOf course. Let me see… Yes! I can give you room 812, on the eighth floor. It is very quiet up there.
YouThat's great, thank you. One more thing — is a late checkout possible on my last day? My train is in the evening.
ReceptionistNo problem. I can give you two o'clock. I will write it here, on your booking.
YouThank you very much! You are very kind.
ReceptionistYou're welcome. Here is your key — room 812. The lift is behind you.
YouExcuse me, sorry. There is a problem with my room. The heating doesn't work, and the room is very cold.
ReceptionistOh, I am sorry! Let me help you. I can move you to room 814. The heating is good there.
YouThat's very kind. Thank you so much.
ReceptionistYou're welcome. And I will take a little money off, for the problem. Here is your new key. Have a good night!

From memory — don't look up!

1. The guest asks for two extra things. What are they?

2. What is the problem with the first room (812)?

3. How does the receptionist fix the problem? They do two things — what are they?

1. A room on a higher floor (because the guest is a light sleeper), and a late checkout on the last day (because the train is in the evening).
2. The heating doesn't work, so the room is very cold.
3. The receptionist moves the guest to a different room (814), where the heating works — and takes a little money off, because of the problem.

Your Turn 🎭

No script this time. You have a real talk with a real person. You have a goal.

1 · Warm up your voice 🎤

Say each sentence out loud. Use your own words in the gaps.

  1. Arrive. I have a ___. My name is ___.
  2. Ask for things. I would like ___, please.
  3. A problem. There is a problem with ___.
  4. Say thank you. That's very ___. Thank you!

2 · The scene 🎬

Pick a situation. Your partner plays the other person.

Your card
Where
The situation
You have
You want
Your ruleAsk for things with "I would like…".
Who you're talking to

🏆 Get a good room and a late checkout.

⏱ 3:00
Twist deck

🎲 Something changes

Start the scene. After a minute, draw a card. What it says just happened.

Nothing has changed yet.

3 · Swap seats 🔁

Now you are the other person. Your partner takes your old part.

Your card
WhereThe hotel desk
Your goalWelcome the guest and fix their problem
Your partnerPlays the guest now

Draw another twist if you like.

4 · Afterwards ✅

Tick what you did, in either seat.

Phrases I want to use next time

Go again

⚡ Same situation, one more time

Do it again. Draw a twist before you start. Try to do it faster this time.

The Echo 🕰️

In 1912, there was a huge ship called the Titanic. It was like a big hotel on the sea — with beautiful rooms, a swimming pool, and lots of staff. People felt safe. They thought nothing could go wrong.

Today, you are at a hotel, and your only problem is a cold room. That is easy to fix — a new key, a phone call, and it is done.

On the Titanic, the problem was much bigger, and no smile could fix it. A cold room is nothing. Be happy it is only that!

🚢 Want the full story of the Titanic? (Easy version)Open →

Two questions to talk about

  1. People pay a lot of money for a nice hotel. What do you think you are really paying for — the room, or the good feeling?
  2. When something goes wrong (a cold room, a late train), some people get angry and some stay calm. Which is better? Which are you?