Unit 1 Education

Section I
Focus on Reading Speed

Reading speed—The eyes determine it.

What really determines your words-per-minute reading rate?

You may be surprised to learn that reading speed is intimately related to eye movements—the fewer, the faster; the greater, the slower. Or, putting it technically: Reading rate is controlled primarily by the deviations of fixations made per line of print.

Studies show (and logic supports) that the slower the reader, the more his eyes move as he/she struggles over the printed page. Very poor (slow) readers may make as many or more visual stops per line as there are letters in the words on that line. Good (faster) readers may stop (fixate)only once every two or three words, taking larger visual "bites" as they move forward. Excellent(fast) readers seldom stop (visually fixate) more than twice per line, and only once on the shorter line-lengths. Then it would follow that the quickest and one of the most effective ways to increase reading rate would be to reduce the amount of eye movement.

Eyes are living cameras.

The best way to understand the role of the eyes relative to reading is to compare them to a camera. As you know, in photography the object to be captured on film must be caught perfectly still when the camera's shutter is open or the unfortunate result will be a blur on the film. Therefore, if you want distortion-free images, both the subject and camera must be completely still at the instant the shutter snaps.

The case is the same with reading. The eyes can see well enough to read with accuracy and certainty only when they are absolutely still. When the eyes are in motion across the printed line, all letters and words are blurred and no actual reading can take place. In fact, as far as productive reading is concerned, all eye movement is a total waste—a waste of time, energy, and comprehension. When you read, you function much the same as a photographer who, in order to capture on film an expansive panorama (letters, words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, pages, chapters, books), must move his/her camera (eyes), determine the subject, snap the picture, and then repeat the process again and again.

Which "reader-photographer" are you?

Look at the examples following and study the patterns of the fixation or "eye-stops" of four very different types of readers. Each stop is numbered above the letter, word, or phrase. At this point, where would you place yourself as a reader-photographer?

The very poor (slow) reader:

The slow word-by-word reader:

The better-than-average reader:

The accelerated reader:

It is not difficult to see how much longer it would take the very poor reader to cover the same material as the slow word-by-word reader, and so on.

It makes good sense that when you drive, you hope to catch all the traffic lights green. If you do, all other conditions being equal, you will arrive at your destination more refreshed and much sooner than if many or most lights were red. The same principle applies almost exactly to reading. Make fewer stops and you get through sooner—and with better understanding of what you have read and less fatigue and frustration.

Blocks to better reading

To read faster you must identify and overcome slow, ineffective reading habits and practices. Just to identify and overcome them, however, is not enough; they must be replaced with faster, more effective habits and practices.

Slow reading and less-than-fully-effective reading are caused by five "blocks". While you may not be hindered by all of these blocks, you should know what they are, and how to remove those which might stand between you and your goal to become an accelerated reader.

Block 1—Failure to preview

It is unlikely that you would start on a motor trip to an unknown place without a road map, or that you would dive head first into a pool without knowing the water's depth, or that you would attempt to cook a totally new dish without a recipe.

Therefore, it may be well worth your time now to study the simple but effective steps necessary to properly preview different types of reading matter. Prereading can tend to reduce your actual reading load by helping to determine quickly whether what you have before is worth spending time to read in depth.

Block 2—Wasted eye movement

Have you ever observed the average reader's eyes as he reads? If so, you would notice they tend to move across the line of print in a series of short jerks, stopping approximately once for each word. If you watched long enough, you would notice this jerky movement is frequently interrupted by glances above, below, to the far left and far right, and perhaps even totally away from the page. These unnecessary movements are known respectively as regressions (looking back, or above), progressions(look ahead, or below), and distractions (looking left-right, or away from the page).

You might also note the eyes travel to the last printed word on the right (or into the right margin), and then snap back to the first printed word of the next line (or into the left margin).

Observing the accelerated readers, however, you would see marked differences in the number and types of eye-stops and movements. First, you would note there are markedly fewer jerks. The eyes move across the line with only two or three stops. (Remember: Reading rate is, to a large degree, determined by the number of stops or fixations the eyes make while reading each line. The fewer the stops, the faster the rate.)

Further, you would find that the left-right swing of the eyes would limit travel to only about one-half the total line length, and this half includes the middle half—the second and third quarters. The eyes do not move over the first or fourth quarters of the line. Also, you would note few if any regressions, progressions, and certainly a bare minimum of visual distractions. However, you would notice that pages were being turned quite frequently.

Block 3—Poor vision span

The "average" reader tends to move his eyes across the printed line in a series of short jerks, stopping approximately once per word. To read noticeably and productively faster, the number of visual fixations or eye-stops made per line must be reduced. Any reduction, however minor, will tend to increase reading rate. And with a marked increase in rate, better comprehension can be expected to follow as practice at the accelerated rate is gained.

To reduce the number of stops, it is necessary to train the eyes to pay conscious attention to (see)a larger area of the page each time they stop (fixate). Training involves drill and practice designed to "develop" the peripheral vision—the side-to-side and up-and-down areas. Without specialized training, most readers pay adequate conscious attention to only five to ten percent of the total visual area—that closest to the centermost point of focus. While it is unrealistic to think that the total vision area can be developed to the point of complete usefulness for the reading of normal print, it is a realistic goal to attempt to enlarge the area so that more of it can be utilized for normal reading.

With practice, it is definitely possible for individuals with normal vision to increase the vision span, to develop and utilize more of the so-called side vision so that the eyes, when reading, take larger visual "bite" with each fixation. Consider the good basketball player who, after much practice on the court, develops the ability to see what is happening all around him with a minimal amount of eye and/or head movement. Being able to see a wide area at all times is necessary if he is to plan his moves in the midst of the frenzied action and excitement. With practice and patience, your eyes will adjust surprisingly well to the need to see a larger area of the printed page each time they fixate (stop).

Block 4—Vocalization and subvocalization

Vocalization when reading is, of course, reading aloud; subvocalization might be defined as reading aloud silently—to one degree or another. Reading aloud too fast would present problems mainly for the reader's listeners, but subvocalization can present serious problems for the person who wishes to read noticeably faster than he normally speaks. If you wish to become an accelerated reader, you must overcome subvocalization completely; failure to do so will forever bond your silent reading rate to your speech rate of about 150 wpm.

A silent reading rate near the speech rate—150 wpm—is not the only indicator or symptom of subvocalization (and/or vocalization). There are five other culprits, some humorously termed. These are: lipping, tongue warbling, jawing, Adam's appling, and diaphragming.

Lipping

Most slow readers "lip-read" on one or more of three movement levels, i.e., speaking aloud, whispering, and "lip-sync-ing". The "lip-sync-er" is more difficult to spot because he seldom if ever makes any type of audible sound while reading; however, his lips are just as busy forming syllables and words as if he were reading aloud.

"Lipping" habits can be overcome quickly and with relative ease if you are aware of their presence, and apply the following techniques until you succeed.

1. Cup both hands behind the ears as you read. If you hear any sounds or whispers at all, concentrate on maintaining silence, and listen as necessary until you break the habit.

2. Read with a pencil held lightly between the lips. Any movement of the lips will be illustrated and exaggerate by the pencil's actions. Practice until the pencil remains still.

3. In severe or extreme cases, the mouth can be sealed temporarily with plastic tape.

Tongue warbling

Birds may warble and utter sweet sounds, but effective readers should not. The "tongue warbler" is a near-master at concealing this tiring and limiting practice. You would no doubt have to watch his throat carefully to catch him because his lips may be as steady as those of the best ventriloquist's; however, inside the mouth and throat, the tongue is busily engaged with forming each and every sound as he reads.

As you read this short paragraph, are you aware of even the slightest movement of the tongue not associated with breathing? If so, no matter however slight, you must overcome it.

Excellent results with stopping "tongue warbling" may be obtained by first ascertaining that it is going on and (if it is), applying the following techniques.

1. Read with a pencil gripped midway back in the mouth, with the tongue held underneath.

2. Read with chewing gum held between the top of the tongue and the roof of the mouth.

3. Hold fingers beneath the jaws to detect tongue movement.

Jawing

The "jawer" does exactly what the term suggests; his jaw tends to "keep time" with his reading. It may appear that he is chewing. If you need to check for and/or overcome this habit, try the following.

1. Read with your chin resting solidly on a clinched fist. (The elbow is planted firmly on a desk or table.)

2. Read while chewing gum; however, make certain to avoid chewing in rhythm with your reading.

3. Practice reading with a pencil clinched firmly between the front teeth.

Adam's appling

The reader here has ostensibly succeeded with cutting out or concealing practically all external and internal movement relative to the head and has, instead, substituted what amounts to throat "exercises".

As he reads silently, he unconsciously puts the voice box and vocal cords through all or most of the intricate movements and changes necessary for normal speech. Inaudibly, he raises and lowers pitch as he experiences the action of the words being read. If a very sensitive microphone were attached to the throat, he might be surprised to learn how much inarticulate "speaking" is going on beneath the normal hearing level.

Check yourself now. Place fingers lightly on both the sides and front of the Adam's apple—voice box. Is there any vibration or movement except that necessary for breathing and swallowing? If so, you are "Adam's appling". You can put a stop to it by utilizing these hints.

1. Consciously and deliberately relax the entire throat and neck area. Stop occasionally to roll and turn the head; breathe deeply, comfortably.

2. Continue to read with fingers on the voice box. Any vibration or movement will alert you to relax further.

Diaphragming

The "diaphragmer" adds actions to silent reading by regulating respiration to correspond with words, phrases, and sentences as he reads. He is unconsciously "projecting" his unverbalized speech. Aside from slowing reading rate, he may well find extended periods of reading quite exhausting.

To test yourself for this weakness, first place a finger beneath the nostrils to ascertain any erratic movement of air; next, put the other hand on the stomach area (beneath the ribs) to feel if the rhythm of the diaphragm corresponds at all with that of your reading.

It is relatively easy to eliminate this practice by reading with hands placed as has been suggested until you succeed with divorcing action of the diaphragm totally from silent reading. While breathing is necessary to life and health, it should have no connection with reading to yourself.

Block 5—Miscellaneous weaknesses

There are three other blocks to faster, more effective reading. While they might seem rather insignificant, they should nonetheless be identified and eliminated if they hamper your progress.

Pointing/Marking

Pointing out or marking your place with a finger, hand, pencil, ruler, card, sheet of paper, or any other object or device is both an unnecessary and a time- and energy-wasting practice. The entire page should be open and exposed to your eyes when you are reading. If you find it difficult to resist pointing/marking, place all such devices out of reach so you will not pick them up unthinkingly. If fingers persist with returning to the page to point and mark your "place", literally sit on your hands until you learn to rely on the eyes to do the job for you.

Hand scanning

Hand scanning, recommended by some exponents of rapid reading, is the second miscellaneous weakness to avoid. Any physical covering (concealing) of the page, for whatever purpose, limits the reader's chances for a more complete understanding of the material printed on that page. Any movement of a hand or finger either down or across a page is not only distracting, it is unnecessary. Hand scanning is, in fact, a "crutch" and has no positive purpose to increase reading rate and improve comprehension.

Slow page turning

Observations of thousands of readers of all types confirmed conclusively that many ineffective readers may take an average of four seconds just to turn a page and resume reading. This is nearly as much time as some faster readers require to read a whole page! At four seconds per page, the reading of a 400-page book would consume some 13 minutes of wasted time on page turning alone.

To assure greater efficiency and time economy with page turning, read with the book flat on the surface of a desk or table. The moment the eyes begin reading the left-hand page, you should "feel out" with the thumb and forefinger of the right hand the next single sheet. Doing so will assure avoidance of the frustrating mistake of turning more than one sheet at a time. As soon as you finish reading the right-hand page, flip the paper quickly, and if necessary, use the fingertips of the left hand—near the bottom—to hold down the newly turned page. Repeat the "feel out" process immediately.

(Adapted from Triple Your Reading Speed, edited by Wade E. Cutler)