Part 2 of 3: Further Speedreading Exercises
1. Understand types of reading.
Speedreading is a set of techniques for blitzing through a book or
article. You don't skip any sections, but your comprehension will
suffer. Skimming involves only reading the most important sections in
order to gain a shallow understanding, and does not require a fast
reading rate. Finally, you should read every word carefully if you want a
deep understanding of a text.
a. Speedreading software and apps often claim not to affect your
comprehension, but this is only true up to a certain reading speed:
possibly around 500 words per minute, although research results are
divided on the exact number.[8]
2. Pick fun, easy reading material to train with. Something enjoyable and easy to comprehend will keep you focused and quick, which is great while you're practicing.
a. Don't practice on a book with many pictures and diagrams among the
text, since that interrupts your pace and makes it hard to measure.
b. A book that remains open when lying flat makes it easier to perform some of these exercises.
3. Time your reading speed regularly. Not only will timing help you to know whether you're improving, trying to beat your best speed is great motivation.
a. Count the number of words on a page, or count the number in one line
and multiply by the number of lines on the page to find this number.[9]
b. Set a timer for ten minutes and see how much you can read in that time while understanding the text.
c. Multiply the number of pages you read by the number of words per
page and divide by the number of minutes spent reading to get your words
per minute or wpm, a common measurement of reading speed.[10]
d. Alternatively, you can search for an online "speed reading test,"
although you will probably read at a different pace from a screen than
from a printed page.[11]
4. Read faster than you can understand.
Many programs claim to increase your reading speed by training your
reflexes first, then practicing until your brain can catch up.[12] This can be effective, but be wary of exaggerated claims not backed up by research.
a. Run a pencil along a text at a rate of one second per line. Say "one
one thousand" in a calm voice as you move the pencil and time it so you
reach the end of a line at the same time you're done with the phrase.
b. Spend two minutes trying to read at the pace of the pencil. Even if
you can't understand anything, keep focused on the text and keep your
eyes moving for the entire two minutes.
c. Rest for a minute, then go even faster. Spend three minutes trying to read at the pace of a pen that moves across two lines every time you say "one one thousand".
d. Practice these exercises every day or few days. Eventually you may
be able to understand more of the text at this pace, and even if you
don't your regular reading speed may improve.
5. Reduce the number of eye movements.
Moving your eyes several times per line is unnecessary. Here is an
exercise you can practice to keep your eyes as still as possible while
reading:[13]
a. Take an index card and place it over a line of text. You can use a
magazine printed in narrower columns if the index card doesn't cover the
entire line.
b. Make two Xs at the base of the index card, dividing each line into three roughly equal sections.
c. Read quickly as you move the index card down, trying to only focus
your eyes just below each X. Focus below the first X and read the first
half of the line, then move once to just below the second X and read the
second half of the line.
6. Narrow the range of your eye movements.
Pencil a light vertical line about two words from the left margin, and
another one about the same distance from the right. Try to read quickly
without moving your eyes further than those lines.[14]
a. You can combine this with the "read faster than you can understand"
exercise described earlier. Move a pen only between the two vertical
lines as you try to read at a pace of 1 second a line or 1/2 second a
line. Continue for two or three minutes even if you understand very
little. Regular practice can improve your reading speed.
b. Calmly saying "one one thousand" is a good estimate of one second to get your pen rate correct. It doesn't need to be exact.
7. Use speed reading software. Free online programs such as Spreeder
can train your reading to high speeds by using electronic methods such
as flashing a sequence of words on your screen in the same spot. Similar
programs are available for your phone as well.
a. Be wary of paying for software like this before you've done your research.
b. While you can read at extreme rates using this kind of software, your comprehension will likely suffer.
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