Reading aloud isn't easy for every child.
For some, the fear of mispronouncing words, making mistakes or being corrected can slowly chip away at their confidence, turning reading into something they dread instead of enjoy.
In South Korea, a unique programme is helping children overcome those fears by pairing them with therapy dogs during reading sessions.
Held at Seoul's Achasan Forest Library, the programme allows children to read aloud to specially trained therapy dogs that simply sit beside them and listen. There are no corrections, no judgement and no pressure to perform.
According to the Korean Human-Animal Interaction Association (KHAI), the calm and supportive environment helps children feel more relaxed while building confidence in their reading abilities.
"Animals don't judge the way children read. They simply stay by their side, listen and wait until they're finished. In that kind of relationship, children gradually let go of their anxiety and naturally begin to open books," said Moon Hyun-min, who leads the association's animal-assisted reading programme.
One eight-year-old girl experienced that first-hand during a recent session with ChamE, a six-year-old Labrador Retriever.
She began reading in a voice that was barely above a whisper. As the session continued, she became noticeably more confident.
"While I was reading a story about a magical bathhouse for dogs, his ears twitched a few times. Sometimes he lifted his head and looked straight at me. It really felt like he was listening," she said.
The READ (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) programme welcomes all children, but focuses particularly on those with hearing or language challenges, including children from migrant families who are still learning Korean.
According to programme organisers, reading aloud to therapy dogs provides repeated opportunities for children to practise pronunciation, articulation and speech fluency in a safe, non-judgemental environment.
While dogs make up the majority of the programme, KHAI has also introduced therapy cats. In one session, a child with hearing loss read to a therapy cat named Leo, who quietly maintained eye contact throughout the reading.
The association, founded in 2021, has expanded its animal-assisted programmes beyond children, supporting hospice patients and university students dealing with emotional stress.
With more than 15 million pet owners in South Korea, animals are increasingly recognised as lifelong companions rather than simply pets. Supported by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, KHAI plans to expand its programmes in 2026 by training more animal-assisted intervention teams to work with children and adolescents experiencing isolation, anxiety and depression.
Source: The Herald Korea