Kilani Excellence
Speed Reading College
Chapter 2
Amazing Readers
Overview
This chapter covers
two types of readers: average and amazing. The chapter will examine why
‘average’ readers are average and their reading habits. The focus will then
shift to the techniques and habits of the amazing (high speed) readers.
The topics addressed
are:
Average Readers
o
Why is average readers ‘average’?
o
What else average readers do while reading?
Amazing Readers
o
No magic
o
High speed reading is a habit
o
Increasing your reading speed
o
High speed reading is gradual
o
Setting your expectations
o
Skill levels: basic, intermediate, advanced, master
Average Readers
Why Are Average Readers
‘Average’?
The average reading speed of an adult
reader, where English is their first language, is 220 words per minute. Practically, this translates into approximately
2/3 of a printed page per minute.
However, this is not the whole story. To appreciate why, we need to consider
what exactly is ‘reading’, which is addressed in a later section.
So,
how do we know what an ‘average’ reading speed is? The human eye cans only ‘see’
printed or computer screen text if it is ‘fixed’ on it
for at least a quarter of second. We have been trained
since early school to read each word in a linear fashion along
a printed line. So, we usually read 4 words per second (WPS); that is 240 words
per
minute (WPM).
However, we lose some
of our reading speed due to other activities that we perform, consciously
or subconsciously, while reading. These activities are detailed below, but they cost us around
10% of reading speed, on average, hence lowering our reading speed average from
240 WPM to 216 WPM (or, if rounded up, to 220 WPM). Obviously, the more time we spend on these activities, rather than
reading, the slower we read.
What Else
Average Readers Do While Reading?
Sub-vocalisation:
Sub-vocalisation
is where you are ‘mouthing’ or saying the words to yourself as you read them. You may sub-vocalise
loudly by uttering the words, silently by moving your lips or subconsciously in your mind. If you are going to sub-vocalise every word you read, then your maximum
reading speed will be your maximum speaking speed, which is 150-200 words per
minute.
Regression:
Regression is when you re-read some words
consciously, mainly because you feel you did not
understand the meaning, of the word or sentence, the first time you read them.
Back Skipping:
Back
skipping is when you re-read some of the words subconsciously, mainly because your eyes are accustomed to this reading behaviour. You may not even notice that
this is how you are reading. A simple test is to ask someone to observe your
eyes closely as you read (and maybe compare to the related Flash movie in the eGym).
Finger Pointing:
Some
readers still use their finger to read, a habit from early schooling days. This
is NOT a bad habit, unless it is slows the
natural movement of the eyes across the page line.
This can happen either by extending the fixation time on some words or obstructing
some reading material by thick fingers (and hands).
Turning Pages:
Turning pages takes time.
Most average readers turn the right page, in an English language book, once
they reached the end (or bottom) of the page. This takes time as the fingers of
the left hand, usually, fumbles trying to grip the edge of the right page, from
the top or bottom of the page, and turn it.
Wandering Eyes:
Your eyes may sometimes
‘wander’ around the page, or off it, mainly due to a temporary lack of
concentration. This could be because of distractions in your environment or your mind. Time is lost while you
are trying to find where you left off and return to your linear reading.
Memorising:
If your
purpose of reading is to recall some information later from the reading material,
then you may be ‘pausing’ at some points to memorise
an important fact or quote. Naturally, you will slow
down your reading as your mind is ‘cataloguing’ the words for future recall.
Pondering:
If you encounter a new
idea, quote or a word, you may pause to ponder its significance
or meaning. This assessment will take time and may distract you, though temporarily, from
the train of thought or rhythm of the reading material.
Other Things:
This is a ‘bucket’ for
all other things you do while reading not mentioned above explicitly! This
bucket can contain drinking coffee/tea/beverages, eating, exercising, talking
to others, getting distracted by external events, and all other factors that
can impact your reading speed, assuming you are trying to concentrate on an
important reading material (versus casual or leisure reading). So, can you
overcome the average reader habits to become a fast reader?
Amazing Readers
There are no magic
tricks or secret formulae that can teach you to read at high speeds, with same or better
comprehension, retention and recall. Speed-readers reach their objectives by diligent practice of advanced reading
techniques. This practice gradually makes reading at high speeds a
habit.
Stephen Covey, in his classic The 7
Habits of Highly Effective People, defines a habit as a combination of knowledge, skill and desire. Knowledge is the
‘what/why’, skill is the ‘how’ and
desire is the ‘want’. If you are reading this far, I can assume you have the desire. The Speed Reading Excellence programme will provide you the knowledge of what needs to be done and guide you
through acquiring and developing the skill of how to read faster and
more effectively and efficiently.
Increasing Your Reading Speed
Achieving
high reading speeds is developing the following abilities into a new habit:
High Speed
Reading is Gradual
Your
high-speed reading targets must be realistic and you should aim to achieve them
gradually. The simple fact is that you will not, with all good
intentions, increase your reading speeds tenfold
by attending a course, reading a book or going through all the Speed
Reading Excellence programme modules in one day. This
is the equivalent of expecting an Schwarzenegger
physique after a day at the Gym.
Setting Your Expectations
It is
very important that you have the right expectations of how fast you can read.
As a guide, and knowing that everybody is unique in their abilities
and willingness to practice, you can hope to achieve the following high-speed
reading levels:
1.
Basic Level: up to 500 words per minute
2.
Intermediate up to 1,200 words per minute
3.
Advanced Level: up to 2,400 words per minute
4. Master Level: above 2,400+ words per minute
Basic Level
Skills
To achieve
Basic Level, you need to acquire the following skills:
· Eliminate
Bad Reading Habits (e.g. regression, sub-vocalisation)
· Increase
Horizontal Vision Span (see more line words per eye fixation)
· Increase
Vertical Vision Span (see more lines per eye fixation)
· Use
Reading Accelerators Efficiently (e.g. hand, pointer)
· Master
Mechanical Movements (e.g. turning pages, scrolling)
Intermediate Level Skills
To achieve Intermediate Level, you need to
acquire all Basic Level skills and the following:
· Optimise Eye Movements in All Directions
(forward, backward, diagonal)
·
Optimise Concentration and Comprehension (understand better what
you read)
· Optimise Retention and Recall (remember more of
what you read)
Advanced Level Skills
To achieve Advanced Level, you need to
acquire all Intermediate Level skills and the following:
· Apply
Preparation Techniques (e.g. skimming, scanning, preview)
· Understand
Writing Styles (e.g. fiction and non-fiction)
· Understand
Writing Structures (e.g. paragraphs)
· Improve
Vocabulary
Master Level Skills
To
achieve Master Level, you need to practice to perfection all skills mentioned above,
as well as develop your own unique style.
PAUSE READING NOW!
If
Eager reader, jump to Chapter 7 now and enjoy the journey.
If
Systematic reader, flip/scroll the page to Chapter 3 and read on.