Apr 10
9
Speed Reading Techniques
Speed Reading Techniques
There are two techniques used by teachers to instruct preschool children how to read. The first one is through phonics and the second one is by sight reading. Phonetically sounding off each letter of the alphabet may be the most common way for one to learn how to read. On the other hand, sight reading makes use of flash cards with predetermined words written on them. The theory is that each word has its peaks and valleys that are easy to remember for they represent a “picture” of the word. There are even studies wherein toddlers were taught how to “read” using the sight reading method.
The thrust of both reading methods is linear reading – left to right, line per line. Reading was approached as syllable for syllable, word for word progression. We were all taught to read aloud when just starting out and then told to read to yourself later which is tantamount to subvocalization – reading words silently. This method of reading is well and fine, if you are in grade school. However as you progress on the ladder of academics and there’s a need to digest large volume of information, you need to read faster without sacrificing comprehension. This is where speed reading comes in.
What is speed reading?
The world’s fascination with speed reading started when the U.S. Air Force used the tachitoscope to flash four words on a screen at the rate of 1/500 of a second with the reader recognizing all four words. This experiment opened the possibility of training someone to speed read. From then on the quest for the best speed reading technique has been ongoing.
It is a misconception that speed reading is a specific method that can help readers process (read) written materials at a certain pace without sacrificing comprehension and retention. There are different methods of speed reading and as a general rule, none is 100% effective with regards to comprehension and retention of processed information. Each individual reads at his own pace and the speed is dependent on the type of material being read. For example, reading a romance pocket book would definitely be easier and faster to read compared to reading a book on human anatomy. Being able to read more than 8 books a day would be meaningless if you cannot understand, much more, retain what you have read. It is the ultimate goal of speed reading programs to process and absorb written information with a comprehension rate of at least 70%.
Speed Reading Methods
There are three basic methods used in speed reading: skimming; meta guiding and schematic processing.
Skimming refers to quickly browsing reading materials while searching for the important or main idea of the text or page. The average person can read from 200 to 400 words a minute. There are some untrained skimmers who can actually read 2500 words with a high rate of comprehension.
Meta guiding is basically guiding the eyes to glide on groups of words with the help of a pointer or a finger to speed up the reading process. The idea is to take in whole sentences in one glance. It entails marking a text page with invisible shapes so as to broaden the visual span to speed read.
Schematic processing is based on the principle that the human brain’s ability to process and understand written information is based on the familiarity or unfamiliarity of a word. This process is called brain mapping. By training individuals to use their existing brain maps, they would be able to handle familiar words and concepts quickly while they process new and unfamiliar information through techniques taught to them.
Speed Reading Techniques
There are different speed reading techniques “discovered” by different speed reading advocates and the oldest of which is Evelyn Wood’s Reading Dynamics. The technique is basically learning how to read (not skim) faster while comprehending the subject matter. The main gist of the three-day program is to at least triple your reading rate, learn how to read dynamically by experiencing what you read and to eliminate reading aloud as this practice slows down reading. The program is more feasible as the rate of words read per minute is more plausible. The downside is you need to physically enroll in the program to learn the technique.
Howard Berg’s Maximum Speed Reading promises to boost your reading rate and comprehension in a matter of hours. The techniques used are effective skimming and meta guiding. The program is jammed into 4 CDs or DVDs that you can order online. The downside? You basically have to “teach” yourself how to speed read by listening to the CDs.
PhotoReading is a process which teaches the mind to shut-off the conscious mind from the learning cycle. Although the conscious mind is needed for the stimulation of the long and short term memory, it can be a hindrance when learning due to its preconceived ideas about the information you are reading. The technique promises a 25,000 words per minute which is doubtful as the human brain might not be equipped to handle that amount of information in one minute.
How to Speed Read
Speed reading is possible. You can train yourself to read at a faster rate plus achieve a 100% comprehension.
· Know what information you want from the text that you are about to read. If you have no idea as to the subject matter of the text or book, skim over the table of contents, scan the headings and subheadings.
· Widen your eye span – Stop subvocalization! If you insist on mouthing each word that you read, that’s how you’ll end up reading – word for word. The idea is for you to have a wider eye span wherein you can capture two to four words at a glance then eventually progress to whole sentences then whole paragraphs.
· Do not attempt to read in one pace. There are some reading materials that need to be read slower than most.
· Practice skimming. Learn how to skip over unimportant details.
· Move your hand or finger as pointer across the page
· Continue to push yourself to the limit. Practice.
