How do people read?
• Our conscious brain takes in 16 bits of information per second, compared to our non-conscious brain that absorbs 11 million bits per second.
• This is the reason why we hate to do stuff consciously.
How do we read?
• Effectively you are not reading words, but blocks of words at a time. The period of time during which the eye rests on one word is called a fixation.
How do we read?
• You may also notice that you don't always proceed from one block of words to the next.
• Sometimes, you may move back to a preceding block of words if you are unsure about something or if you don’t understand what it meant.
• These disruptions to the forward flow of reading are called skip-backs.
How do we read?
• Research shows that there is a big relationship between rate and comprehension.
• Some people read rapidly and comprehend well; others read slowly and comprehend badly.
• Thus, there is some reason to believe that the factors producing slow reading are also involved in lowered comprehension.
Pre-Requisites of Speed Reading
• Before taking into consideration speed reading, we must understand that it is an activity that is not to be used for everything that is read.
• Speed reading basically covers two areas: – reading – comprehension
In order to achieve and use speed
reading
Speed
Practice
Overview of Goal
Vocabulary
Pre-Requisites of Speed Reading
Pre-Requisites of Speed Reading
• It is useless to study speed reading if you have trouble in absorbing information.
• You should already be an able reader before you try to speed read.
• Speed reading will not help you if you have problems in understanding the meaning of the words.
Before Trying to Speed Read
• Consider Your Purpose• Look for Specific Words• Become an Impatient Reader• Different Speeds for Different Materials
Identifying Needs for Reading the Material
• In order to become aware of your reading situation, ask yourself questions like:– What do I want (or need) to know and learn?– In which context do I want (or need) this?– Which texts could suit these needs?– What made me choose this text?
Identifying Needs for Reading the Material
– How deeply an understanding of the text do I need?
– How much time have I got?– How do I want to proceed?
Different Speeds for Different Materials
• You do not need to read every word to understand a text.
• However some texts will require careful reading, so you need to know when to adjust your reading speed.
• Skim a text, and then decide if a slower reading approach is necessary.
How to Speed Read?
• Step 1– In reading, your starting position and reading gesture is relevant:
sit up straight, with the book being held by your left hand, and with your right hand doing the pacing.
– You should have your full concentration on your text and no noise should be allowed in the place where you are reading.
– Read until the end!
– Do not get tired, discouraged, or bored; don’t just stop reading when you want to.
How to Speed Read?
– After you finish reading, recall the things that you have learned, return to the ideas that seem unclear, and reread them in order to grasp their ideas.
– Carefully read and absorb difficult passages. On parts which are not clear, don’t be afraid to stop and reread
How to Speed Read?
• Step 2– Scan the page for titles, sub-titles, graphs or
anything that provides data.
– Read the data on the graphs or summaries.
– As you begin to scan the page just make sure you read the content words and skip all function words.
How to Speed Read?
• Step 3– Stop sub-vocalization.
– Try to shut down the little voice in your head!
How to Speed Read?
• Step 4– With your finger, pen or any other marker, slide the
pen and read everything without going back.
– This is in other words you will be reducing fixations.
– After you’ve finished reading the page ask yourself, “what did I understand?”
How to Speed Read?
• Step 5 – Constantly verify what is important and what is not.
– There are times where you know that there is specific data that you need to understand.
– Speed read what isn’t important and read carefully what is considered to be important.
Major Causes of Slow Reading Speed
• The major causes of slow reading speed can be influenced by these individual variables such as:– intelligence– motivation – physiological – psychological traits
Vocabulary Deficiencies Inflexibility
Slow Reaction
TimePassivity
Major Causes of Slow Reading Speed
Major Causes of Slow Reading Speed
• Deficiencies in vocabulary and comprehension levels required by the particular reading material greatly affects reading rate.
• Learning will not help a student who has difficulty understanding the reading material.
• In addition, learning will not help a student who is hindered by an inadequate vocabulary to skip any faster through unknown or vaguely defined words.
Major Causes of Slow Reading Speed
• Inflexibility – the tendency to read everything the same way regardless of what it is,why it is being read, etc.
• Passivity – the failure to become involved with the material being read; the failure to interact with the author and to anticipate his following thoughts. Unnecessary and habitual regression or re-reading due to lack of concentration.