| Learning to speed read can be a daunting | | | | First, get your eyes moving over the print at |
| challenge for those who want to master the skills | | | | speeds well in excess of what you can |
| in the very beginning. One of the biggest limiting | | | | understand the spoken word. This occurs at over |
| factors of traditional reading is that as adults we | | | | 600 words per minute, but is most effective if |
| read with a see-say-hear-know method known as | | | | done over 1200 words per minute. In fact there |
| subvocalization. It limits the speed you read to the | | | | is great benefit to go even faster, perhaps |
| speed of your voice. But when starting out to | | | | 5000-10,000 words per minute initially. |
| learn speed reading, too much attention is given | | | | "But I won't understand it at those speeds!" you |
| to this habit, and not on learning how to replace it. | | | | say. That is correct, and not correct |
| Subvocalization means you see the words on the | | | | simultaneously. You will not understand the |
| page, then you say them in your mind, then you | | | | material the way you are used to comprehending |
| hear them in your mind, and then you finally | | | | reading in your linear, grammatically sequenced |
| understand them. This habit was ingrained from | | | | approach to which you are habituated. However, |
| early reading development and is deeply ingrained | | | | if you pay attention to the print as a whole piece, |
| in your behavior. When reading with this approach, | | | | and not interrupt your mind by saying, "I'm not |
| you can only go as fast as you can say the | | | | getting anything," you may find that you begin to |
| words. The average speaking rate is between | | | | discover some very interesting observations |
| 150-250 words per minute. That's not very fast. | | | | about the material. With continued intense practice |
| Your mind wants to go faster, so one of the by | | | | sessions, you will re-train your mind to perceive |
| products of subvocal reading is mind wandering. | | | | the material in a new way. Combining this |
| We get bored. The mind goes elsewhere. | | | | approach with effective comprehension strategies |
| When learning to speed read, we always start out | | | | will make the double bind slip away. |
| explaining the old habits that interfere with your | | | | This new perceptual patterning will then lead you |
| natural ability to read very fast. Subvocalization is | | | | into understanding comprehension in a new way |
| the one that all people can easily relate too. Then | | | | that is very exciting, and very well focused. |
| in the early stages of learning, they go on a | | | | Additionally, you need to wake up your mind to |
| warpath against subvocalization. Often I've | | | | start responding! The traditional linear and subvocal |
| observed beginners shaking their heads during an | | | | approach has been demonstrated through brain |
| exercise. When I ask them what's wrong, they | | | | imaging scans, to put half of our brain to sleep. It |
| will respond, "I'm still subvocalizing! I can't seem to | | | | is a left-brain dominant activity. However, when |
| stop it!" and voiced with consternation and | | | | you learn to wake up your mind with effective |
| disappointment with themselves. | | | | comprehension strategies, and move your eyes |
| Then I will tell them, don't worry about | | | | more efficiently with this new dynamic approach, |
| subvocalization. Follow the technique you are | | | | both the right and left hemispheres of the brain |
| working on. Eventually the subvocal process will be | | | | become engaged. |
| replaced. | | | | Imagine that! You not only become an effective |
| In fact, an effective speed reader's mind does | | | | speed reader, you can become a whole brained |
| not go silent! If your mind goes silent, then you do | | | | reader! I must caution though, without external |
| not comprehend the material. (I get so many | | | | support in your training, you will probably give in |
| emails and messages from people who say they | | | | to your old ineffective habits. I have not met |
| bought a software program and they are now | | | | anyone who is truly a speed reader, who read a |
| going at 2500 words per minute, but they don't | | | | book and mastered the skills. I won't say that |
| understand anything!) Reading with comprehension | | | | can't be done, but the chances are really slim. You |
| means your mind is responding to the print in a | | | | know yourself best. How often have you learned |
| meaningful way. If your mind goes quiet, then you | | | | a very complex set of behaviors required to |
| are in a double bind. | | | | master a new skill by merely reading a book? |
| How do you get out of this double bind? | | | | |