aener Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 I'm sure some of you must have either looked in to or developed this skill for use with studies/work. I read slightly below average speed, but I need to change that. Been reading through lots of different instruction sites, and the methods on there have no doubt sped my reading up a bit, but not to anywhere near the speeds they quote. If I force those sort of speeds, I have probably a <10% comprehension at the end of it. Does it come with time? Most guides seem to make out once you know the theory behind it, it comes pretty easy - which doesn't seem to be happening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonsieurMonkey Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Is there any particular reason you want to read faster? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.Wood Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Just practise reading? Knowing the subject will help alot as you'll recognise the words. Especially important in scientific papers where alot of it is technical jargon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD™ Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Best technique I ever found was to skip the first and last 3 words of each line - your peripheral vision picks it up for you. Seems to work well for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aener Posted August 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Is there any particular reason you want to read faster? Yep. Getting ready for my final year of uni next year. Feel like I should actually do some proper research this time around. Reading at my usual pace last year, it proved impossible to source enough material. Best technique I ever found was to skip the first and last 3 words of each line - your peripheral vision picks it up for you. Seems to work well for me. Bummer. This was one of the suggested techniques on various sites, and those six words just don't register at all. More often than not missing six consecutive words out of a sentence changes it's meaning rather drastically, so it doesn't work for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonsieurMonkey Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 The way I do it, as you read make notes. It's slow at first, stopping to right down every important point. But as you start to speed up, you learn what to look for, because you get used to writing in short hand you just learn to read like that. Or that's what I found anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD™ Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 I was gonna edit my reply as soon as I'd made it, but I'll just do it now instead: I think the important bit is not to concentrate on how many words you're missing out, it's more like you're skim reading an area of the page which is ~3 words short both sides. If you concentrate on not seeing those 3 words you wont, the point is it's sort of subconscious. You'll see the 6 words out of your periphery if you're able to. Obviously it's hugely possible that technique just isn't for you, but that's the stumbling block I had with it - if you just let it happen you'd be surprised how much you take in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomm Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Yep. Getting ready for my final year of uni next year. Feel like I should actually do some proper research this time around. Have you considered just reading your subject material, instead of reading about how to read fast? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shamus Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 Reading lots makes you read quickly, I read a shedload of novels etc. I don't know how I read fast, never thought about it, I tend to just scan the page and afterwards flick pack to what seemed crucial points to ensure I've taken it in correctly. This kind of works for technical documents. My engineering degree meant devouring a lot of literature, acommplished by skimming several pages then going over the crucial items. A lot of stuff is repitition but the trick is to subconsciously nail down the crux of the concept or method or whatever. Also, practice techniques of relaxing to allow your subconcious space to work its magic, this isn't easy in exam conditions but I often remember stuff after I've binned a question and moved on, allowing time to go back is very important. But as Tomm said, procrastinating about improving your technique doesn't get the job done, doing the job gets the job done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolver Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 I read pretty fast. When I read quickly its like looking at every 5th word or something, and relying on peripheral vision to pick up the rest. The problem is that I only pick up the gist of the text rather than being able to remember the exact words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Vandart Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 Reading lots makes you read quickly, I read a shedload of novels etc. I don't know how I read fast, never thought about it, This, I read really really fast. I agree with people citing technical documents, I have had too read probably thousands of technical manuals and written a good few myself. This is not me saying I am clever, it really is just practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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