Go to your local public library, and you will find an unusual activity is appearing more and more: Practicing reading with trained dogs. How would you feel about taking time once a week to read aloud to a dog.
Each dog in a reading program experiences a special training session. The trainers also receive training; they learn how to interact(互动)with the students and the dogs. Each program has high standards. There have been many studies of the interactions between humans and dogs that show dogs lower people's blood pressure and heart rate. People become more relaxed and calmer and will completely forget what they are scared of when they have a dog nearby.
Unlike at school, where students sit at desks or tables, students and dogs sit together on special reading mats. Some students lie next to the dogs. Each student reads to one dog, so there is a quiet din of voices in the room. The dog has been taught a command to pay attention to the reader. So when the trainer says something to the dog, it focuses on the student at once. But sometimes, the students read the dogs to sleep!
The dog's trainer is also present. He or she watches the dog carefully to make sure that the dog behaves. Sometimes, the trainer gives the dog a break when the dog becomes restless. While the trainer doesn't help with the reading, the trainer talks to the student about the dog and explains how to take care of pets and how to be safe around animals.
Students who read to dogs show the benefits of this interaction. They are calmer and can avoid worrying about getting all the words correct. The dog just wants to hear the story. As students learn more about the dogs they read to, they also learn that they have gained a new friend.
Not only do students change their reading habits with the dogs during the program, but they also change their school habits. Their reading skills increase by twelve to twenty percent. They start raising their hands and answering questions more often. They pay more attention in class. Some students start arriving at school earlier and are absent less often.
Dogs are not just for playing fetch with anymore. Now they can help people become better readers. Next time you visit your local library, be on the lookout for four-legged creatures (生物) who want to hear a good story.
