BIRCHAM INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

• What is reading speed?

To explain the interaction of reading and the mind, let us look at the example of driving. If we accelerate the car from 45 to 90 M.P.H., the brain is forced to adapt to this new speed and to assimilate the information faster. If later we slow down to 60 M.P.H., the brain makes our senses believe that we are actually going much slower. This is because when we speed up, the brain is forced to process more information in less time; therefore when we slow down, the brain still has extra time to perceive greater amounts of details. This example can be applied to reading: when reading speed is increased, the brain, adapting to it, actually can assimilate more information in less time. Average reading speed of a university student is 240 words per minute (w.p.m.), but fast reading training the same student can read up to 800 or even to 1,500 w.p.m.

• Practice to increase reading speed.

Seeing the value and power of speed-reading, one feels motivated to get rid of poor reading habits and develop new and more efficient ones. The basic rule of mastering proper reading habits is: practice, practice and more practice! We should set up training sessions where the focus will be on increasing reading speed as opposed to remembering. We are looking for the same effect that acceleration has on the brain while driving.

• Choose the best reading speed depending on the purpose of reading:

1. Study-paced reading (250 w.p.m.): This is the speed to ensure comprehension, to face complex issues or new vocabulary.
2. Fast reading (400-800 w.p.m.): This is the ideal speed for reviews, reports, summaries and previously read texts.
3. Exploratory reading (500-1500 w.p.m.): This is the right speed for first recognition of the text. It allows identification of the topic, the main points and the principal details in a short period of time. Most important of all, it prepares the reader for the better content assimilation. When exploring a text for the first time, determine its length and structure and pinpoint the ideas of most interest. Then, when ready to study the text, one can get straight to the heart of the matter. Exploratory reading as a timesaving technique is extremely important if a book is to be studied chapter by chapter because the faster reading pace allows for the exploring of previous and following chapters, increasing learning capacity and the ability to cover the main points and answer potential questions.

• Why do many people read slower than they could?

Unfortunately, because of poor reading habits acquired in childhood. A habit is developed if an activity is repeated regularly over a period of time. The way we read is a habit. The good news is that modifying reading habits is quite a simple process that can be accomplished over a relatively short period of time, depending on individual personality characteristics and how much is put into it. Again: practice, practice and more practice. Here are some benefits of gaining reading speed:

1. Gaining time in identifying what is important and discarding what is secondary.
2. Assimilating essential points of a text faster and more effortlessly.
3. Understanding with greater clarity, more effective store of memory.
4. Having more time to study specific topics in depth.

• The most common reading habits that should be corrected:

1. Uniform reading speed
The complexity of different texts is not the same. Therefore, learn to adapt the reading speed to the level of text difficulty and to the purpose of reading in each concrete case.

2. Low speed
Reading at a slow pace fragments the reading material and limits perception. Reading fast allows greater clarity in the assimilation of concepts and ideas.

3. Inefficient eye movement
When reading, the eyes tend to go back and read the same line again. Also, when passing to the next line the eyes are tempted to wonder aimlessly for a few moments instead of focusing straight on the first word in the following line.

4. Low eye perception range
When the eyes fix upon a text, they usually perceive 3-4 words. This quite low eye perception range results from poor childhood reading habits: children are taught to read word by word. The eyes can be trained through practice to see up to 12 words every time they fix on the text.

5. Subvocalization
This habit also known as auditory reaffirmation means pronouncing each word, to oneself or aloud, as the eyes fix on it. Like low eye perception rate it is rooted in those early days at school, when the teacher used to make pupils read aloud to make sure the relationship between letters and sound was established. It is best to eradicate this habit as soon as possible. Because it limits the reading speed to talking speed, which is much slower.

6. Distractions
Both internal and external distractions are killers of reading comprehension because they break our concentration and force us to go back in the text assimilation several times.