| Want to increase your reading speed today? The | | | | your inner voice and then must go back. |
| fastest way to do so is to start reading with a | | | | - Reading one word at a time - This is also |
| pacer. With this simple technique, you can be | | | | unnecessarily slow and you probably give each |
| reading faster in just hours! And that's only one of | | | | word equal time and emphasis. This reduces |
| the benefits. | | | | understanding as you focus on the words instead |
| A pacer is just something you guide your eyes | | | | of the meaning. You then need to reread the key |
| with as you read. For print reading, the most | | | | words that really give the sentence meaning. |
| common pacer is your finger. You could also use | | | | - Pressure from teachers to get comprehension |
| a pen or some other small object. On a | | | | from reading something only once caused you to |
| computer, you can use the mouse cursor. | | | | unconsciously reread some words to try to |
| So why does this work to help you read faster? | | | | remember it all. |
| Because it virtually eliminates one of the major | | | | Thankfully, reading with a pacer effectively |
| habits that keep most people reading much | | | | eliminates the tendency to make unconscious |
| slower than they're capable of. That habit is | | | | regressions. You just need to train your eyes to |
| regression. | | | | follow it. Then only move the pacer forward from |
| A regression means to reread words that you've | | | | left to right along each line. |
| already read. Now it's one thing to do this | | | | Reading with a pacer has other benefits besides |
| consciously because you didn't understand | | | | reading faster. It can improve comprehension |
| something or because you recognize important | | | | because you're not rereading words. Rereading |
| information that you want to reread. The real | | | | totally messes up the flow of the sentence. |
| problem is unconscious regressions. | | | | Imagine someone talking to you and randomly |
| An unconscious regression is when you reread | | | | repeating a word they've already said! |
| one or two words as you're reading without being | | | | You will also experience less eye fatigue from |
| aware that you're doing it. You might do this once | | | | reading. You will make few or no unconscious |
| or twice per line! | | | | regressions, so the number of fixations you make |
| Why would you do this? It's a result of the way | | | | will be less. And your eyes will move smoother, |
| we learned to read: | | | | since eyes have an easier time following a moving |
| - Subvocalization - This means sounding out the | | | | object. |
| words in your head as you read them. Sounding | | | | Learning to read with a pacer can be done very |
| out words was an important part of learning to | | | | quickly - If not hours, then a few days. Initially, |
| read. But after you become a competent reader, | | | | you may find yourself thinking about moving the |
| it's not necessary for comprehension and | | | | pacer and not about understanding what you're |
| severely limits your reading speed. Because your | | | | reading. But with a little practice, it will become |
| eyes can see the words much faster than you | | | | automatic and normal for you. |
| can speak them, they frequently get ahead of | | | | |