FREE online courses on Improve Your Reading Speed - Basic Conditions for
Increased Reading Rate
A well planned program prepares for maximum increase in rate
by establishing the necessary conditions. Four basic conditions include:
- Have
your eyes checked. Before embarking on a speed reading program, make sure that
any correctable eye defects you may have are taken care of by checking with
your eye doctor. Often, very slow reading is related to uncorrected eye
defects.
-
Eliminate the habit of pronouncing words as you read. If you sound out words in
your throat or whisper them, you can read slightly only as fast as you can read
aloud. You should be able to read most materials at least two or three times
faster silently than orally. If you are aware of sounding or "hearing" words as
you read, try to concentrate on key words and meaningful ideas as you force
yourself to read faster.
- Avoid
regressing (rereading). The average student reading at 250 words per minute
regresses or rereads about 20 times per page. Rereading words and phrases is a
habit which will slow your reading speed down to a snail's pace. Usually, it is
unnecessary to reread words, for the ideas you want are explained and
elaborated more fully in later contexts. Furthermore, the slowest reader
usually regresses most frequently. Because he reads slowly, his mind has time
to wander and his rereading reflects both his inability to concentrate and his
lack of confidence in his comprehension skills.
- Develop
a wider eye-span. This will help you read more than one word at a glance. Since
written material is less meaningful if read word by word, this will help you
learn to read by phrases or thought units.
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