レッスンを予約する
Step 1
Read the Article
Read the article to understand the main idea.
記事を読んで、おおよその内容をつかみましょう。
Spain fines Airbnb $75 million for unlicensed tourist rentals
Spain’s government has fined Airbnb €64 million (¥12 billion) for advertising unlicensed tourist rentals, officials said Dec. 15.
The move is the latest government action in Spain against short-term rental companies such as Airbnb and Booking.com as the country grapples with a housing affordability problem, particularly in city centers.
The consumer rights ministry said the rentals didn’t include license numbers or listed license numbers that didn’t match what authorities had. Others had incorrect information about hosts, it said.
Airbnb said it plans to challenge the fine in court. The company said it was working with Spanish authorities to comply with a new national registration system for short-term rentals, and that more than 70,000 listings on the platform had added a registration number since January 2025.
Spain’s leftist government and many Spaniards across the political spectrum see short-term rental companies as bearing responsibility for driving up housing costs.
(AP)
Step 2
Check the Vocabulary and Phrases
Check the following vocabulary and phrases.
以下の単語やフレーズの発音、意味、使い方を確認しましょう。
grapple
（問題などに）取り組む
to try hard to find a solution to a problem
Scientists are grappling with how to slow down climate change.
科学者たちは気候変動をどう抑えるかに取り組んでいます。
affordability
手頃な価格であること
the fact of being cheap enough that people can afford to buy it or pay it
To improve affordability, the company offered a cheaper version of the product.
手頃にするために、その会社はより安い版の製品を提供しました。
comply
（命令や要求に）従う、応じる
to obey a rule, an order, etc.; to meet particular standards
Companies must comply with new regulations to avoid large fines.
企業は大きな罰金を避けるために新しい規則に従わなければなりません。
bear
（責任を）持つ
to take responsibility for something
The company has to bear the cost of repairing the damaged equipment.
その会社は損傷した機器を修理する費用を負担しなければなりません。
drive up
跳ね上がらせる
to make something such as prices rise quickly
Rumors and fear drove up the number of people buying emergency supplies.
噂と不安が非常用品を買う人の数を増やしました。
Step 3
Comprehension Questions
Answer the following questions based on the article.
理解度問題に挑戦しましょう。
Why did Spain’s government fine Airbnb?
What action does Airbnb plan to take in response to the fine?
Step 4
Discussion
Share your opinions on the following questions.
以下の質問について、自分の考えを述べてみましょう。
Do you know about Airbnb? Have you ever used it while traveling?
Why do you think some rentals might not have the correct license numbers?
How do you think short-term rentals can affect housing prices in a city?
Do you think governments should regulate short-term rental companies? Why or why not?
In your country, does tourism affect local people? How?