Chawlk

1. Drawar
2. Fenxy
3. Decaflon
4. Two Credits
5. Wriging
6. Loose Suits
7. Chixe
8. Dud3s
9. Wing Colors

 

I heard some people that really benefited from speed reading courses. I am a fast reader anyway, but the thing that prevents me from actually speed reading is that I articulate all the words in my head. This is the main blockage for speed reading people need to overcome. One suggestion was reading a book you haven't read before and try to not read everything out loud in your head. It takes some practice but once you overcome this barrier it is supposed to be great.

I haven't practiced yet but I am planning to when I have time. I am not sure how it works with foreign languages as I tend to pronounce every single English word in my mind (I'm Dutch). But maybe it's the same for your native language and a foreign language, I don't know.

I learned how to speed read in high school and it helped me a ton in certain classes like English where I could cover a book 2-3x when everyone else was struggling to finish it once. For denser text like Biology it isn't advisable, but it comes in handy definitely when you can turn it on and off.

Again the benefit I saw wasn't the fact that I could cover something quickly and be done with, but I could cover it multiple times in a short period. Repetition was always the best form of studying for me. The toughest part is training your mind not to say the words outloud when going over them as that slows you down.

Here is an article that will answer a lot of your questions.

thanks for the insight guys.

I agree it's useful for scan / over sight reading but for the nitty gritty you can't beat focused paced reading. There is no short cut when it comes to weighty stuff that I have found. The one 'trick' I did learn that helped me when I was studying was to read something and distill it. Take it to a paragraph, then to a sentance or few and then down to one trigger word - it helps if you have to remember something to break it down into triggers.

As an editor, I've learned to speed read. However, I don't like doing it when I don't absolutely have to. Advantages are obvious, but the biggest disadvantage (at least for me) is the comprehension issue. Whenever you speed read you sacrifice comprehension. While you may still get the point (or points) of the text, the lack of comprehension usually means that some nuances are lost.

Interesting you should say that because I found that when I speed read any fiction my comprehension seems to increase. Reading normal and saying the words outloud in my head is almost like watching a movie in slow motion, but when I speed read it seems things are going at their normal pace and much easier for me to grasp.

Again this only applies to fiction.

So did those of you who do know how to speed read learn yourselves?

I took a course many moons ago, but it never really took. I'd be interested in knowing if there are good online resources to teach me that skill. Suggestions anyone?

Checkout the article that I linked to in my earlier comment. That's a good foundation.

I speed read on occasion, depending on what I am reading.

I took a speed reading course years ago, through work.

I took speed reading classes when I was a kid as part of a course. It really helps a lot in terms of picking up information, though it doesn't help in terms of language skills.

Since I'm in the scientific field, speed reading really helps since I usually go through a lot of journals and thesis. So picking out the information helps more than just skimming through without absorbing anything.

@Scrivs: guess I sped-read right over that link. Thanks, I'm off to read it now.

I can speed-read 1000 words a minute. I don't recomend it, because at that speed you're only getting the jist of the paragraph, but not understanding it.

I had to take a speed reading course as part of "College Analytical and Speed reading." And let me tell you: you can not be analytical when you're speed reading.

I'm sorry to say, but your best bet is to start early with the reading.

And like Scrivs, when I read just for fun, I still read at least 2x faster than other people. Always have, even in the fourth grade, when a sub didn't believe me when I said I had read the story, and was pissed when I filled out the worksheet correctly.

I just read the article and love the idea of spreed. I could see a real benefit to that! Thanks for passing along, Scrivs.

I used to read at 1500wpm with 80% comprehension, thanks to a program called eyeQ. It made reading really fun and I think it is a really good skill to have because you learn to read by paragraph (lines at a time). It really helps with your peripheral vision, too. After a while you start looking at everything in a Gestalt point of view.

The problem is, you won't be able to retain the information very long unless you are VERY skilled at it. I think it's because since you're reading at a rate too fast for your vocal cords, your brain skips the auditory center you would normally relay to when reading at a normal speed.

And if you neglect to practice for a long time (like me) you will agonize with frustration as you fail to comprehend anything you try to speedread.