Sharing from Speed Reading Workshop

SPEED READING WORKSHOP

by: Madam Hayati

What is reading?

Reading is meaning making. If you read and you don’t understand, or you read and you can’t just remember what you just read a minute ago that means you’re not reading!

But first, we need to understand how our brain work first. Try to look at these video

Jambatan Otak (Low Def but possible to understand)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UFCPnaFueg

Additional - Brain Trick – How our brain work 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiTz2i4VHFw

What can we learn from this video? It is that if you want to read heavy material, you’ll struggle at first, different from reading casual material.

Also, another good thing to do is to check your preferred way of learning, whether you are a visual / Analogue Audio / Digital Audio / Kinesthetic type of learner. (Hint: If you’re a Analogue Audio type then you should consider buying a voice recorder. Test is given at the end of this post)

Now, let’s do a speed reading test. Pick any new article that you haven’t read before, one that you can read comfortably. If you’re comfortable with English, go for it, if you want to read Malay article, also possible. If you usually read Al-Qur’an then..

Take a stopwatch, and when you’re ready start the stopwatch and read the article. (Make sure you’re not trying too hard to read fast, just read casually). After 1 minute of reading mark the last word at that 1:00 time and count the number of word you’ve just read. Repeat a few times if you want. That amount is the number of word per minute (wpm) and that is your speed of reading. An average person speed of reading is 150-200 word per minute. A super fast reader can read at 600 word per minute!

Note that in this workshop the speaker only give a beginner level tips to be a super reader. The speaker presented some common problem when reading:

1. Unconscious & Conscious Regression

This is your optimal body posture when pointing with a pen or hand.
1. This means that after you read something, due to you consciously (or unconsciously), you would go back to read the previous sentence or paragraph.
2. Never regress when reading.
3. Tips #1: Point with a pen or a hand when reading (called hand-pacing)
4. Tips #2: Preview what you are going to read. Use the SQ3R Method.
2. Reading Word by Word

1. We need to practice reading multiple words at the same time.
2. Use eye hopping method, by jumping from 2 or 3 word at a time. Example is given above (Obviously in a book you wouldn't find word spaced like this, so you have to do this mentally)
   
3. Sub-vocalization (Reading out loud)
1. This could be an effect due to our kindergarten or primary school experience. Expert said that we sub-vocalize when we are weak in certain language.
2. Reading out loud slows our reading speed because our brain can read faster.
   
4. Poor vocabulary
1. This is a common problem, many expert have taught us that when we don't understand a word, we should find its meaning and write it in a special note, and review it periodically. Remember the video Jambatan Otak?
2. A word is a concept, so make sure to know its synonym and antonym.
   
5. Poor organization
1. Use SQ3R method
2. Survey the chapter
3. Question yourself
4. Read
5. Recite
6. Review

Additional Information:
Answer this test to see your preferred way of learning.

Visual learner: Absorb information through eyes.
Analogue Audio: Listens a lot to internal voices.
Digital Audio: Good listener to lectures.
Kinesthetic: Learn better when doing practical thing.

This workshop was based on the book How to be a Super Reader by Ron Cole