Speed Reading Tutorial
The roots of speed reading go back to 1859, when A.W. Volkmann invented the tachistoscope, a machine that shows pictures to an observer for very brief periods. It became a household word in the 1950s when schoolteacher Evelyn Wood developed her speed reading technique. It gained further fame during the U.S. presidential administrations of John F. Kennedy and Jimmy Carter, who insisted that their staffs take speed reading training.
-
Goal
-
While some proponents of speed reading claim that people can read at a rate higher than 1,000 words per minute, rates that high are generally thought to be skimming rather than reading. If you want to read for comprehension, a more realistic goal is 400 words per minute.
Chunking
-
Three Ways to Divide the Page
The first skill taught in traditional speed reading training is chunking, which is reading using your peripheral vision. This technique will allow you to read several words at one time, rather than focusing on each individual word. You can train yourself to do this by dividing the page you are reading into equal sections, either mentally or by actually drawing vertical lines on the page. Focus your eyes on the lines and see how much you can read using the entire 180 degrees of your vision. As you are able to pick up more, divide the page into fewer sections until you can read the entire line focusing on only one or two places (see illustration).
Reducing Subvocalization
-
The second skill in speed reading courses is to reduce subvocalization. Subvocalization is the movements of your mouth and throat that you probably make when reading silently, approximating the sounds of the words you are reading. Some subvocalization is normal and helps with comprehension. If you rely on it too much, though, it can slow your reading. Spoken American English tends to be 150 to 200 words per minute; if you can stop subvocalizing, you can exceed that limit.
Force yourself to stop saying every word in your head. Try saying every second word, or even one in five or 10 words, and decrease from there. The chunking by itself should lead to decreased subvocalization if only because not looking directly at each word should make you less likely to say each word.
Reading Vocabulary Development
-
One of the best skills you can develop to help your reading speed is to increase your reading vocabulary. The more words you recognize on sight, the faster your reading will go. Calendars and websites that provide you with a new word each day are a good place to start, but you must use the words multiple times to add them to your active vocabulary.
-
