Sofia arrived in Barcelona on a sunny morning. She was traveling alone for the first time. Her backpack was heavy, but she felt excited. She had booked a bed in a hostel near the beach. The hostel was in an old building with colorful walls. A friendly man at the reception gave her a key. 'Your room is on the second floor,' he said. 'You will share it with five other travelers.' Sofia climbed the stairs and found her room. There were three bunk beds inside. A girl with curly hair was reading on the bottom bunk. 'Hi, I am Maria from Brazil,' the girl said with a smile. 'I am Sofia from Poland. Nice to meet you!' Sofia put her backpack on the empty top bunk. Maria told her about the hostel rules. 'Quiet time starts at eleven,' Maria explained. 'And the breakfast is free in the morning.' Sofia was happy to hear about the free breakfast. Traveling on a budget was not always easy. Later that day, two more travelers arrived. They were Tom from Australia and Yuki from Japan. The four of them quickly became friends. They decided to explore the city together. First, they walked along the famous La Rambla street. Street artists were performing everywhere. Tom bought some postcards for his family. They visited the old market and tried local food. The seafood was fresh and delicious. In the evening, they sat in the hostel common room. Other travelers were playing guitar and singing songs. Sofia had never felt so free in her life. The next morning, she woke up to the sound of birds. She climbed down from her bunk quietly. Everyone else was still sleeping. Sofia went to the shared bathroom with her towel. She had to wait because someone was inside. This was normal in a hostel. At breakfast, Sofia met travelers from many countries. They shared stories about their adventures. One man had traveled through fifteen countries. Sofia was amazed by his stories. That afternoon, the group went to the beach. The water was warm and blue. They swam and played in the waves. Yuki took many photos with her camera. Sofia thought about her life back home. Everything seemed different now. The world felt bigger and full of possibilities. On her last night, Sofia could not sleep. She was sad to leave her new friends. They exchanged phone numbers and email addresses. 'We will meet again someday,' Maria promised. The next morning, Sofia packed her backpack. She took one last look at the empty bunk beds. Her friends had already left for other destinations. At the reception, she returned her key. 'Did you enjoy your stay?' the man asked. 'It was the best week of my life,' Sofia answered with a smile. She walked out into the sunny street. Sofia knew that this was just the beginning of her adventures.
English Story (A2)Hostel Life
This A2 English story is designed for elementarys learning English. It includes simple vocabulary and short sentences to help you improve your reading and listening skills. Click any word to see translations and hear pronunciation.
About this story
Sofia travels alone to Barcelona for the first time and stays in a hostel near the beach. She shares a room with travelers from Brazil, Australia, and Japan, and they quickly become friends. Together they explore La Rambla, visit the old market, and spend time at the beach. Sofia experiences the freedom of hostel life, meeting people from around the world and sharing stories. When she leaves, she exchanges contact information with her new friends, knowing this is just the beginning of her travel adventures.
Translations in English
Linked wordUnderlined wordOther words
Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
Where did Sofia book a bed to stay in Barcelona?
2
Where did the group go to explore the city on their first day together?
3
What did the travelers do in the hostel common room in the evening?
4
What did Sofia and her friends do on their last night before she left?
Vocabulary
30 words from this story
