| A question that is often asked of speed reading | | | | which speed reading courses see as a no-no. You |
| trainers is whether or not anyone can improve | | | | will have to discard it if you want to improve your |
| their reading speed. The simple, straightforward, | | | | reading speed. However, it's not easy to do. |
| answer to this question is "yes", they can. | | | | Finally, whichever of the speed reading |
| However, this is not to say that the leaner will not | | | | methodologies you select to learn, it is likely that |
| have to provide some input of their own: after all, | | | | you'll need to learn to read large chunks of |
| all learning is a form of trade-off. In this regard, | | | | information at the same time, or to skim read. As |
| the following are seen as the four essential | | | | children we are taught that these practices are |
| elements that a student of speed reading will | | | | not good for us - we will likely miss information, |
| need to bring with them if they want to learn to | | | | or misinterpret it. |
| speed read: | | | | As you can see then, a willingness to accept new |
| 1. A desire to improve | | | | ideas is going to be essential if you want to learn |
| Strange as it may seem, not everyone is willing | | | | to improve your reading speed. |
| to accept that there is a better method of | | | | 3. Motivation |
| reading than the one currently being used by the | | | | Although motivation may be considered similar to |
| student. Most likely, the student has learnt their | | | | desire, the essential difference is that not only do |
| current reading method at a very formative age - | | | | you need to have the desire to learn, but you |
| probably on their mother's knee. As a result, it | | | | need to keep that desire for, potentially, a long |
| can be hard to try and convince students to | | | | period of time. In practice, learning the proper |
| adapt to new methods of reading, a skill we see | | | | speed reading technique only takes a very short |
| as so fundamental, none of us is really willing to | | | | time. But the real test is in having to practice and |
| accept that we do not know how to do it, and do | | | | practice everyday. |
| it well, already. | | | | This means that a student of a speed reading |
| Therefore, a real desire to improve your reading | | | | course is going to need to maintain the motivation |
| speed is the first essential element you'll need to | | | | to learn how to improve their reading speed over |
| bring with you to class. | | | | a prolonged period. Indeed, some would argue |
| 2. A willingness to accept new ideas | | | | that you never stop learning to improve your |
| Another concept that we learn in our formative | | | | reading speed. |
| years is to sound out our words (technically called | | | | 4. Practice |
| subvocalize) as we read them. In part this is done | | | | The adage is "practice makes perfect", and |
| so that we learn how to pronounce the word, not | | | | nowhere is this adage more appropriate than in |
| read it! However, in later life this habit can be | | | | the reading learning process. Anyone who wishes |
| extremely difficult to break. But, if you want to | | | | to improve their reading speed is going to have to |
| be able to improve your reading speed, it is a | | | | practice over prolonged periods. |
| habit you will have to break. | | | | Conclusion |
| In addition, most of are taught at some stage in | | | | To sum it up, if you want to learn how to |
| our life that if we have not comprehended, or | | | | improve your reading speed, all you is (i) desire; (ii) |
| understood, what we have just read, to go back | | | | willingness; (iii) motivation; and (iv) practice. |
| and reread the passage. Again, this is a habit | | | | |