| Reading is one of the most effective ways of | | | | speed for overcoming the various obstacles to |
| rendering the available information into intellectual | | | | speed reading - obviously, anyone wanting to |
| knowledge. Speed reading technique refers to the | | | | learn speed reading techniques must be at least |
| process of accelerating your reading skills to far | | | | an average reader having reasonably good |
| beyond an average reader's speed of 250-350 | | | | vocabulary and comprehension level: |
| words per minute (wpm). Skilled readers who | | | | · Read in blocks: Make a conscious effort |
| have mastered the art of breakthrough reading | | | | to read block-by- block (here "block" means a unit |
| speed can read as many as 1000 or more words | | | | of as many words as your eyes can span and |
| per minute with an astounding 85% | | | | read at a time) instead of word-by-word, and try |
| comprehension level. Compare this with an | | | | to increase as much as possible the number of |
| average reader reading at 250 wpm - typically, | | | | words covered in one block. It is just a matter of |
| the comprehension level is only about 60%. | | | | practice. |
| Thus, a speed reading technique helps you to not | | | | · Reduce fixation time: Push yourself to |
| only read faster but also comprehend, and hence | | | | spend as little time as possible on each block. By |
| recall, more of what you have read. Whether you | | | | doing so, not only will you read faster, even your |
| are a student studying for your exams or a | | | | concentration will not waver. |
| professional in any field requiring constant updating | | | | · Avoid skip-back: Skipping back to a |
| of your knowledge bank, breakthrough reading | | | | previous line is a very common occurrence |
| speed is the key to easing your "information | | | | among slow readers. It can be avoided by running |
| overload". It is a very useful skill to possess, | | | | a pointer along the line as you read. |
| though you may not always like to use it - as | | | | · Avoid subvocalization: Subvocalization |
| while reading poetry, where you want to read | | | | refers to the habit of silently speaking each word |
| slowly in order to savor each and every word to | | | | in the mind, or even muttering softly using lip |
| the maximum. | | | | movement, while reading. An average speaker |
| Before learning a speed reading technique and the | | | | talks at a speed of 280 wpm. This means, if you |
| top secrets of breakthrough reading speed, it is | | | | subvocalize every word your reading speed will be |
| important to understand the factors that make | | | | limited to a maximum of 280 wpm. The best |
| reading slow. Some common reasons for slow | | | | way to prevent this is to develop a wider eye |
| reading are: (i) reading word- by-word like a child; | | | | span. |
| (ii) subvocalization (i.e., silent speech) during reading; | | | | These are some of the do-it-yourself tips for |
| (iii) skipping back to previously read line/words due | | | | breakthrough reading speed. For realizing your |
| to interruption in flow of reading, sometimes | | | | maximum potential in speed reading, it is best to |
| unknowingly and sometimes from lack of | | | | undertake a professional speed reading course |
| concentration. | | | | that offer a speed reading technique that you can |
| Here are the top secrets of breakthrough reading | | | | master, either online or offline. |