The Boy Bathing by Aesop for ESL Students

The Boy Bathing by Aesop for ESL students based on the English Immersion Program with a podcast and vocabulary practice in real context

The Boy Bathing is now in the public domain available on Gutenberg Project.

Podcast of the Boy Bathing

The Boy Bathing

A boy was bathing in a river and got out of his depth, and was in great danger of being drowned.

A man who was passing along a road heard his cries for help, and went to the riverside and began to scold him for being so careless as to get into deep water, but made no attempt to help him.

“Oh, sir,” cried the boy, “please help me first and scold me afterwards.”

English proverbs from the short story

Give assistance, not advice, in a crisis.

Vocabulary in real context

1. bathing: taking a bath, swimming
2. got out of his depth: found himself in a dangerous situation like deep water
3. scold: chide, criticize, admonish
4. attempt: effort, try
5. assistance: help, aid, support
6. crisis: dangerous or worrying situation

Questions and answers

Answer the following questions in the comment box below.

1. Why was the boy in danger in this fable?
2. What mistake did the traveler make in his response to the boy?
3. What lesson is Aesop trying to teach us through the story of the boy bathing?