6 Secrets to Read Faster and Understand Better

You can increase, even double, your reading speed. Imagine the advantages! If you need an hour to learn a topic at present, you could then learn it in half an hour!

Before learning to increase your reading speed, first check out your present speed. Then you will know the exact improvement made.

Here's a simple way to check reading speed: Read text in one minute at your normal speed. Then count the number of words you read. That's your reading speed in 'words per minute'.

There are three main reasons for slow reading:

1. Stopping your eyes at every word while reading.

2. Reading word by word.

3. Moving your eyes back to read the previous words again and again.

Such actions consume much time. The only way to correct them-move your eyes smoothly and at a faster pace over the lines in your book. Then your reading speed will increase tremendously.

How do you move your eyes smoothly? By using a 'fast-reading aid'-a pen, pencil, or even your finger! Next, choose any text and read by moving your 'fast-reading aid' (pen, pencil or finger) below the lines you are reading, for a minute. Then count the number of words you have read.

You will find an improvement because your eyes do not get a chance to stop at every word and shift backwards. Some students have achieved 50 to 100 per cent improvement in reading speed with this simple method. After some practice you can read faster even without using any 'fast-reading aid'.

The next fast-reading trick will help you further increase reading speed and the ability to understand.

Learn to read words in groups by training your eyes to see more than one word at a glance. For example, read the group of words marked below in a single glance. Stop your eyes on the underlined letter in each group, which is approximately the centre of the group of words.

 (You know) (how to) (read faster).

In this way, practice reading two or more words at a glance. Do such practice for only 2-3 minutes daily. You will soon learn the technique.

You can use newspaper columns for this. As such columns are of 4 to 6 words only, try to read each line in one glance. That is, move your eyes from top to bottom along the column and not horizontally. If your eyes are strained with this method, don't use it.

Reading is mostly mental work. Therefore, you can use visualization to read faster. Here's how: close your eyes, and imagine yourself reading faster. Picture yourself reading a book and moving your head from left to right, smoothly and quickly-to indicate you are reading faster.

Do this visualization for 2-3 minutes, whenever you have time. Especially before practicing the actual methods recommended in this chapter.

Word power plays a powerful role in increasing reading speed.

Learn the meaning and pronunciation of words that are frequently used in your study course. Bingo! Your reading speed will accelerate! Not only this, you will also understand your subjects easily!

Even mastering thousand basic words makes reading and understanding easier. Basic words are ones used frequently in textbooks, magazines and newspapers.

You can also do this thing: while reading any book or newspaper, mark the word you don't understand or can't pronounce properly. Then look it up in the dictionary.

Also make a list of such words and check them frequently, recall their meaning, and try to use those words while speaking and writing.

Make this a habit to increase your word power; this will automatically increase your reading speed! Also, your grasping power and ability to concentrate will get a big boost because reading at higher speed prevents stray thoughts.

Faster reading comes with practice. So read, read, and read with fast-reading aids. Measure your reading speed at monthly intervals.

Measuring reading speed at regular interval shows whether you are improving or not. If you are not, start all over again.

Aim for a speed of 150 to 250 words per minute. More the merrier!

Extract from the book 'Crack! the Study Success Code'
written by B. K. Narayan & Preeti Narayan
Page: 133
Price: Rs.120
Interested persons desirous of buying the book may visit:
http://www.pustakmahal.com/book/book/bid,,5645D/index.html