A playful black-and-white dog bursts from the woods—and then speaks.
Hey Boy! blends wonder with a creeping menace as Jaron faces a dangerous choice.
This B2–C1 lesson includes the full story, 12 comprehension questions with model answers, a 12-item vocab pack, five exercises, discussion prompts, a role play, and creative-writing tasks.
Download the full lesson plan in pdf format by clicking the link below:
In this stage, go around the class and take turns asking and answering the questions. Encourage students to share their ideas in full sentences, and follow up with additional questions to deepen the discussion.
Do you like dogs? Why or why not?
Have you ever met a dog (or another animal) that seemed very clever? What happened?
In stories and films, animals sometimes talk. Can you think of an example? What do they say?
Do you prefer funny animal stories or scary ones? Why?
Video for Listening
Now take a look at the video below. Listen to the way I read the story. You can follow along with me and practice your English speaking and pronunciation. Good for listening too!
Hey Boy! – full story
In this stage, the story is read aloud by the students. Each student should read a short section in turn. After each section, pause to check comprehension and ask simple follow-up questions to ensure understanding.
Jaron skidded to a halt on his bike.
Right in front of him a dog — black and white with a bright, friendly face — came running full-tilt towards him.
Jaron braced himself, unsure what the dog might do. He had never owned a dog. His mum often said she’d get one, but his dad always shook his head and said no.
The dog darted right up to Jaron’s bike, swerved at the last second, scooted round him, and carried on down the path.
Jaron twisted round to see where the dog had gone. But then — there it was again, racing back towards him.
The dog was playing!
“Hey, boy!” Jaron called.
He didn’t know if the dog was male or female, but he guessed most dogs were probably boys. And this one looked like a boy. He even acted like a boy.
The dog rushed past him again and Jaron let out a squeal of laughter.
“Come on, boy!”
The dog barked back. Then, strangely, another sound came out — almost like the word hey.
Jaron blinked. Had the dog… spoken?
The dog slowed down this time, jumped up, and raised his paws as if he wanted Jaron to reach out. So Jaron did just that, touching the dog’s head. The fur was soft and warm.
“Hey, boy,” said Jaron. “What you doing?”
“Hey, yourself,” said the dog.
Jaron pulled his hand back in shock. He toppled off his bike and landed on the ground.
The dog sat and tilted his head.
“Be careful,” he said.
Jaron gasped. The dog had spoken.
He scrambled to his feet and ran straight into the woods. Branches whipped at his face. But to his side, the dog bounded easily beside him.
“Wait!” the dog barked. “Stop! I want to talk to you!”
“Dogs don’t talk!” Jaron cried, swerving — and slamming hard into a tree.
The fall knocked the breath out of him. He lay stunned on the ground. The dog padded up and licked his face.
“That must have hurt,” the dog said gently.
Jaron stared, wide-eyed.
“This… this isn’t real.”
“I think it is,” said the dog. He sat calmly at Jaron’s side, panting. “I’ve seen you here before, riding down the path. Today I finally found the courage to speak.”
Against all reason, Jaron began to talk back. And to his surprise, it felt like the first real conversation he’d ever had.
“So your mum likes dogs?” asked the dog.
“She said I could have one,” Jaron admitted. “But my dad — he’s different. He says no to everything.”
The dog tilted his head. “Everything?”
“Yeah,” Jaron sighed. “He doesn’t like dogs, he doesn’t like me riding too far on my bike, he doesn’t even like it when I play music in my room.”
The dog let out a panting laugh.
“Sounds like he doesn’t like much at all.”
Jaron nodded. “Not really.”
There was a pause. The dog’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“And that bothers you, doesn’t it?”
Jaron shrugged. “Sometimes.”
The dog leaned closer. “Maybe you wish things were… different.”
“I guess so.”
“Maybe,” the dog continued softly, “your father needs to be reminded he can’t control everything. Maybe he needs to be taught a lesson.”
Jaron frowned. “What do you mean?”
The dog’s voice grew lower, almost a growl.
“You said he hates dogs. He hates your music. He hates your freedom. Maybe it’s time someone showed him he can’t keep you down.”
Jaron felt his chest tighten. “That’s not possible. He’ll never change.”
The dog pressed one paw onto Jaron’s chest, holding him there. His once-friendly eyes seemed darker now, shadowed.
“Then perhaps we don’t change his mind,” he whispered. “Perhaps… we change him.”
Jaron tried to shift away, but the weight of the paw held him still. The woods seemed to close in around them.
“Jaron,” said the dog. “Are you with me?”
Reading Comprehension Questions – full list
Read carefully and answer in your own words, using the story as evidence. You can check the model answers at the back of the lesson plan.
Where was Jaron when he first met the dog?
Which details show the dog is playful rather than aggressive?
What do we learn about Jaron’s family and pets?
What surprising thing happens after Jaron touches the dog’s head?
How does Jaron react physically and emotionally?
What events lead to Jaron getting hurt?
How does the dog comfort or respond after the fall?
Why does the dog say he spoke “today” and not before?
How does the dog use Jaron’s feelings about his father?
Why does the dog suggest Jaron’s father “needs to be taught a lesson”?
What change does Jaron notice in the dog’s eyes — and why is it significant?
What question does the dog ask Jaron in the final line, and how might Jaron feel at that moment?
Essential Vocabulary
Use these vocabulary items from the story throughout the tasks.
skidded (to a halt) · full-tilt · braced (himself) · darted · scooted · squeal (of laughter) · gasped · toppled · stunned · panting · plucked up the courage · growl
Vocabulary Practice Routine (Notebook)
Write each new word/phrase.
Look up a clear definition.
Write your own sentence connected to your life.
Examples
skidded — stopped suddenly by sliding. Example: My bike skidded on the wet leaves.
growl — a low, threatening sound. Example: The dog’s growl made me step back.
Discussion Questions
This set invites broader interpretation. There are no single correct answers—justify your ideas with evidence from the story.
What would you do if you met an animal that could talk?
Do you think Jaron really heard the dog speak, or was he imagining it? Why?
The dog starts friendly but becomes threatening. How does the writer show this change?
Why might Jaron’s father dislike dogs, music, or “freedom”? Any fair reasons?
Have you wanted something your family didn’t allow? How did you handle it?
Should Jaron trust the dog or keep his distance? Explain.
What does the ending suggest about the dog’s true character?
How would you change the ending to make it less scary?
What lessons can we learn about trust, boundaries, and persuasion?
If the story continued, what might happen next?
You can download the full lesson plan by clicking the link below!
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