How to Learn Speed Reading (PART II)

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.

 

sumber : http://www.wikihow.com/Learn-Speed-Reading

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Hal Menarik untuk Membangkitkan Semangat Membaca

Berikut ini adalah 10 hal menarik untuk membangkitkan semangat membaca:

• 1.Sesuaikan tingkat bacaan dengan tingkat kosakata, sebab keengganan meneruskan bacaan seringkali dikarenakan kita sulit memahami arti katanya.
• 2.Luangkan waktu secara rutin untuk membaca (misalnya setengah jam per hari) karena langkah ini lambat laun akan meningkatkan kemampuan memahami berbagai gaya tulisan dan kosa kata baru.
• 3.Mencoba menulis tentang apa pun yang dianggap menarik, misalnya tentang perasaan, pengalaman, cara memandikan kucing, menanam pohon, membuat kue, dan lain sebagainya. Mencoba menulis akan meningkatkan minat membaca.
• 4.Berusaha menggunakan waktu untuk membaca dengan selalu membawa bahan bacaan di mana pun berada. Simpan buku atau majalah dalam tas, ruang keluarga atau tempat yang sering Anda gunakan, sehingga memungkinkan Anda menjangkau dan membaca .
• 5.Tentukan berapa banyak buku yang ingin Anda baca dalam kurun waktu tertentu. Mulailah memasang target dengan disiplin tinggi, karena langkah ini melatih kemampuan meluangkan lebih banyak waktu untuk membaca lebih banyak hal.
• 6.Buatlah daftar buku yang sudah Anda baca dan catatan isi buku tersebut. Simpanlah catatan tersebut dengan rapi di tempat favorit Anda, misalnya di buku harian, di komputer, di lemari, dan lain sebagainya.
• 7.Matikan televisi, karena televisi tidak mengajak kita aktif belajar dan berpikir kreatif. Daripada waktu terbuang untuk memindah channel televisi mencari acara televisi yang bagus, bisa jadi waktu tersebut sudah cukup banyak untuk menyelesaikan membaca sebuah buku.
• 8.Bergabunglah dengan kelompok baca, di mana dalam periode tertentu para anggotanya berkumpul untuk mendiskusikan topik bacaan yang telah sama-sama ditentukan sebelumnya. Berkomitmen terhadap kelompok baca memberikan momentum yang lebih besar untuk menyelesaikan bacaan buku, dan menciptakan forum yang luar biasa untuk berdiskusi dan bersosialisasi seputar tema buku.
• 9.Sering-seringlah mengunjungi toko buku atau perustakaan, karena kesempatan melihat-lihat buku akan melatih mental membaca sebagai kebutuhan dan menginspirasi banyak hal baru yang menarik untuk dibaca .
• 10.Bangunlah strategi, yaitu dengan menentukan sendiri cara yang baik menurut Anda untuk meningkatkan aktivitas membaca, sehingga Anda semakin rajin membaca dan mendapatkan manfaat yang lebih besar dari buku yang Anda baca. Kembangkan terus minat baca Anda, karena membaca dapat meningkatkan kemampuan, terutama kemampuan untuk menjalani kehidupan dengan lebih bijaksana. Tingkatkan intensitas membaca dengan memanfaatkan waktu luang semaksimal mungkin untuk membaca.ingatlah bahwa Membaca merupakan salah satu investasi yang baik dari waktu yang kita miliki.

sumber : http://komunitasngejah.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/pentingnya-membaca-dalam-kehidupan-sehari-hari/

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5 Alasan Mengapa Anda Harus Membaca

Kebanyakan orang begitu sibuk dengan pekerjaannya sehingga tidak memiliki banyak waktu untuk membaca buku. Untuk menyegarkan fikirannya, orang lebih senang menonton film, jalan-jalan ke mall atau bermain games di gadgetnya. Padahal membaca tidak hanya memperkaya wawasan tetapi juga bermanfaat untuk kesehatan. Setidaknya ada 5 Alasan Mengapa Anda Harus Membaca?
1. Melatih otak
Salah satu manfaat membaca buku adalah sebagai latihan otak dan pikiran. Membaca dapat membantu menjaga otak agar selalu menjalankan fungsinya secara sempurna. Saat membaca, otak dituntut untuk berpikir lebih sehingga dapat membuat orang semakin cerdas. Tapi untuk latihan otak ini, membaca buku harus dilakukan secara rutin.
2. Meringankan stres
Stres adalah faktor risiko dari beberapa penyakit berbahaya. Keindahan bahasa dalam tulisan dapat memiliki kemampuan untuk menenangkan dan mengurangi stres, terutama membaca buku fiksi sebelum tidur. Cara ini dianggap bagus untuk mengatasi stres.
3. Menjauhkan risiko penyakit Alzheimer
Membaca benar-benar dapat meningkatkan daya ikat otak. Ketika membaca, otak akan dirangsang dan stimulasi (rangsangan) secara teratur dapat membantu mencegah gangguan pada otak termasuk penyakit Alzheimer.
Penelitian telah menunjukkan bahwa latihan otak seperti membaca buku atau majalah, bermain teka-teki silang, Sudoku, dan lain-lain dapat menunda atau mencegah kehilangan memori. Menurut para peneliti, kegiatan ini merangsang sel-sel otak untuk dapat terhubung dan tumbuh.
4. Mengembangkan pola tidur yang sehat
Bila Anda terbiasa membaca buku sebelum tidur, maka itu bertindak sebagai alarm bagi tubuh dan mengirimkan sinyal bahwa sudah waktunya tidur. Ini akan membantu Anda mendapatkan tidur nyenyak dan bangun segar di pagi hari.
5. Meningkatkan konsentrasi
Orang yang suka membaca akan memiliki otak yang lebih konsentrasi dan fokus. Pembaca memiliki kemampuan untuk mendapatkan perhatian penuh dan praktis dalam kehidupan. Ini juga mengembangkan keterampilan objektivitas dan pengambilan keputusan.
Bagaimana, tidak ada alasan lagi untuk tidak membaca kan? Buku bisa menjadi salah satu pilihan cerdas untuk me-refresh pikiran ketika penat atau kelelahan. Kebiasaan baik itu tidak hanya akan menyegarkan pikiran tetapi juga memberi manfaat untuk kesehatan.

sumber : http://media.zoya.co.id/inspirasi/5-alasan-mengapa-anda-harus-membaca 

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Pentingnya Membaca dalam Kehidupan Sehari-hari

Membaca adalah kegiatan yang sarat manfaat dan sangat penting dalam kehidupan kita. Banyak orang sukses dan cerdas karena kecintaan mereka membaca buku dan belajar. Oleh sebab itu tingkatkan intensitas membaca terutama di waktu senggang Anda

Manfaat membaca dalam kehidupan sehari-hari:

• 1.Membaca membangun pondasi yang kuat untuk dapat mempelajari dan memahami berbagai disiplin ilmu sekaligus mengaplikasikan dalam kehidupan sehari-hari.
• 2.Senang membaca meningkatkan kecerdasan verbal dan lingusitik karena membaca memperkaya kosa kata dan kekuatan kata-kata.
• 3.Membaca mencegah rabun mata, karena membaca melatih dan mengaktifkan otot-otot mata.
• 4.Membaca mencegah kepikunan karena melibatkan tingkat konsentrasi lebih besar,mengaktifkan, dan menyegarkan pikiran.
• 5.Kegemaran membaca membantu meningkatkan kecerdasan, serta meningkatkan daya kreativitas dan imajinasi.
• 6.Membaca membantu memperbaiki rasa percaya diri, mengembangkan kemampuan memanajemen emosi, dan meningkatkan kemampuan melakukan interaksi sosial positif di mana pun dan kapan pun.>p
• 7.Membaca membentuk karakter dan kepribadian, sampai-sampai ada pepatah yang mengatakan, “Apa yang kita baca sekarang, seperti itulah kita 20 tahun yang akan datang”.
• 8.Membaca menjadikan kita lebih dewasa, lebih arif dan bijaksana dalam menjalani kehidupan.

SUMBER : http://komunitasngejah.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/pentingnya-membaca-dalam-kehidupan-sehari-hari/

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Skimming And Scanning: Two Important Strategies For Speeding Up Your Reading (PART II)

What Is Scanning?

Scanning is another useful tool for speeding up your reading. Unlike skimming, when scanning, you look only for a specific fact or piece of information without reading everything. You scan when you look for your favorite show listed in the cable guide, for your friend’s phone number in a telephone book, and for the sports scores in the newspaper. For scanning to be successful, you need to understand how your material is structured as well as comprehend what you read so you can locate the specific information you need. Scanning also allows you to find details and other information in a hurry.
How to scan.  Because you already scan many different types of material in your daily life, learning more details about scanning will be easy. Establishing your purpose, locating the appropriate material, and knowing how the information is structured before you start scanning is essential.
The material you scan is typically arranged in the following ways: alphabetically, chronologically, non-alphabetically, by category, or textually. Alphabetical information is arranged in order from A to Z, while chronological information is arranged in time or numerical order.
Information can be also be arranged in non- alphabetical order, such as a television listing, or by category, listings of like items such as an auto parts catalog. Sometimes information is located within the written paragraphs of text, also known as a textual sense, as in an encyclopedia entry.
Learning to use your hands while scanning is very helpful in locating specific information. Do you do anything with your hands to locate a word in a dictionary? To find a meeting time on your calendar? To read a train or bus schedule? Using your hand or finger is extremely helpful in focusing your attention and keeping your place while scanning a column of material.
    Your peripheral vision can also help you scan effectively. When your hand moves down a list of names, you see not only the name your finger is pointing to, but also the names above and below. Let your eyes work for you when searching for information.
    Keep the concept of key words in mind while scanning. Your purpose will determine the key words. Suppose you are looking for the time a train leaves from New York City for Washington, D.C.The key words to keep in mind are “from New York City” and “to Washington,D.C.” If you are looking for the cost of a computer printer with the code number PX-710, the key word to locate in a list of many printers is “PX-710.”
When to scan.?You scan when your aim is to find specific pieces of information. If you were doing the research for an oral presentation, you could scan the index of books, web sites, and reference materials. You would discover whether they contain any information you want and the pages where the information can be found.
In the past, you probably scanned without knowing you were doing it. Now with the information provided in this section, you can use scanning more intentionally and frequently. The more you practice, the more effective scanning will become. Finally, the most important benefit of scanning is its ability to help you become a more flexible reader. Scanning adds another high gear to your reading.
Permission to not read everything.?Because you may be used to reading every word and may be uncomfortable leaving some words out, you need to give yourself permission to overlook some words by skimming, scanning, and skipping material according to your reading purpose. I give you permission to NOT read everything!

source : http://www.howtolearn.com/2013/02/skimming-and-scanning-two-important-strategies-for-speeding-up-your-reading/

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Skimming And Scanning: Two Important Strategies For Speeding Up Your Reading (PART I)

Skimming and scanning are two very different strategies for speed reading.

They are each used for different purposes, and they are not meant to be used all the time. They are at the fast end of the speed reading range, while studying is at the slow end.
People who know how to skim and scan are flexible readers. They read according to their purpose and get the information they need quickly without wasting time. They do not read everything which is what increases their reading speed. Their skill lies in knowing what specific information to read and which method to use.

What Is Skimming?

Skimming is one of the tools you can use to read more in less time. Skimming refers to looking only for the general or main ideas, and works best with non-fiction (or factual) material. With skimming, your overall understanding is reduced because you don’t read everything. You read only what is important to your purpose. Skimming takes place while reading and allows you to look for details in addition to the main ideas.
How to skim.?Many people think that skimming is a haphazard process placing the eyes where ever they fall. However, to skim effectively, there has to be a structure but you don’t read everything. What you read is more important than what you leave out. So what material do you read and what material do you leave out?
Let’s say you are doing research on a long chapter or a web site. By reading the first few paragraphs in detail, you will get a good idea of what information will be discussed. Once you know where the reading is headed, you can begin to read only the first sentence of each paragraph. Also called topic sentences, they give you the main idea of the paragraph. If you do not get the main idea in the topic sentence or if the paragraph greatly interests you, then you may want to skim more.
At the end of each topic sentence, your eyes should drop down through the rest of the paragraph, looking for important pieces of information, such as names, dates, or events. Continue to read only topic sentences, dropping down through the rest of the paragraphs, until you are near the end. Since the last few paragraphs may contain a conclusion or summary, you should stop skimming there and read in detail. Remember that your overall comprehension will be lower than if you read in detail. If while skimming, you feel you are grasping the main ideas, then you are skimming correctly.
When to skim.Because skimming is done at a fast speed with less-than-normal comprehension, you shouldn’t skim all the time. There are many times, however, when skimming is very useful.
Suppose you are taking a presentation skills class and have to deliver an oral report in a few days about the first computers ever made. You locate six books and four newspaper articles about this topic. Because you must be ready soon, you do not have time to read each word, but you need a large quantity of solid information.
Skimming will help you locate the information quickly while making sure you use your time wisely. It will also increase the amount of usable material you obtain for your research.
Suppose you have an exam in a few days. You need to review the material you learned, but you don’t want to reread everything. By skimming, you can quickly locate the information you haven’t mastered yet and study only that material.
While reading, ask yourself the following questions to help you decide whether or not to skim. If you answer yes to any of these, then skimming is a useful tool.
?    Is this material non-fiction?
?    Do I have a lot to read and only a small amount of time?
?    Do I already know something about this?
?    Can any of the material be skipped?
If you have sufficient background knowledge or believe you don’t need the information, then skip it! That’s right—don’t read it at all! Believe it or not, skipping material may sometimes be the best use of your time. Just because someone wrote something doesn’t mean you have to read it.  If you pick and choose carefully what you skim and skip, you will be pleasantly surprised at the large amount of information you can get through in a short period of time.

SOURCE : http://www.howtolearn.com/2013/02/skimming-and-scanning-two-important-strategies-for-speeding-up-your-reading/

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How to Learn Speed Reading (PART 1)

Part 1 of 3: Learning to Read Faster

1. Understand the purpose of these tips. These instructions are great for increasing your reading speed without losing too much comprehension. They are the best way for anyone to begin increasing their reading speed, including someone who wants to become an extreme speedreader.

a. If you're trying to cram for a test faster or browse magazines more quickly, take a look at the section on Skimming Text Faster.

b. If you want to learn to read books extremely quickly and don't need to understand them fully, browse these tips first before moving on to Further Speedreading Exercises.

2. Stop imagining the spoken word. Even if you don't mouth the words silently as you read them, chances are good you "subvocalize," or imagine the words being spoken aloud.^[1] This is useful for difficult texts, but mostly just slows you down needlessly.

a. Stop yourself whenever you notice this happening. Being conscious of the habit can be enough to minimize it.

b. If you can't stop, try quietly chanting something repetitive such as "1 2 3 4" or "A E I O U."^[2] Stop if the chanting distracts you from reading.

c. Groups of words are harder to vocalize, so practice reading in blocks using the techniques below to help with this issue as well.

d. If you are physically moving your lips as you read, hold a finger against them while reading to stop this habit.

3. Take in groups of words. Instead of reading each word separately, train yourself to understand a group of words at once. This requires less eye movement, which in turn makes reading much faster.[3]

a. Hold the book or screen a little farther from your eyes than you are used to as you read to take in more words at once.

b. Soften your gaze and relax your face. If you are too focused and tense, you won't be able to see the words farther from your center of vision.

c. Follow along with a pencil or other object as you read, but hold it slightly above the text to make your eyes focus on a wider area.

4. Train yourself not to read the same passage twice. Most people frequently stop and skip back to words or sentences they just read to try to make sure they understood the meaning. This is usually unnecessary, but it can easily become a habit, and many times you will not even notice you're doing it.

a. Use an index card or pen to hide the words you've already read, training your eyes not to move backward.

5. Find a quiet, well lit environment. Even if you think you read better when you have music playing or when you're in a crowded coffee house, you will understand the text much better if you reduce distractions to a bare minimum. Try to find a solitary, well lit place to read, and turn off the TV, radio, and cell phone.[4]

a. If no solitary place is available, try using earplugs to block out any distractions around you.

b. Light is important even when reading on a computer screen.

c. Reading in bed makes many people sleepy. Try sitting up at a desk, with your book tilted at a 45º angle away from you.^[5]

6. Read when you're alert and engaged. Some people function well in the morning, while others think better in the afternoon. Save important reading for those times of day.[6]

a. Start a reading session by reading the important material first, when your eyes and brain aren't tired out.

b. Ask questions to yourself as you read the text or the chapter headings, and search for answers as you read. This keeps you focused and avoids daydreaming or other mental distractions.^[7]

7. Adjust reading speed depending on the material. Even this one article probably contains advice you've already heard as well as some that's completely new to you. A good reader slows down to understand something complex and speeds up through familiar sections.

a. Don't be afraid to fall back on "bad habits" to understand a text better. If you are reading a difficult book and don't have a time limit, feel free to reread sections or read them aloud in your head. In fact, you can use these tools to better effect now that you're aware of them!

^{SOURCE : http://www.wikihow.com/Learn-Speed-Reading} 

 

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