Improve Your Reading Speed

The most frequently asked question about speed reading is. Can anyone learn to speed read? The
answer is "yes", you can improve your reading skills using speed reading. That is however based upon your desire to learn the four elements of speed reading and putting them to use. These are the four elements of reading that will improve your speed.

1. Your desire to improve

The unfortunate truth is that not everyone is willing to accept the reality that there is a better way to read and improve your comprehension. Some students begin to read as early as age two and three. These early methods as tried and true as they are often can be a stumbling block to their reading improvement. With these early formative skills rooted in place the student often can not convince themselves that there is a different and better method of reading. Once the student accepts the fact that they can learn how to speed read they will open for themselves a new and more exciting way of reading to class.

2. Your openness to accept new ideas

Phonetics are the building blocks of learning how to read. We learn how to break down words into their sounding syllables. This method which I was taught from the beginning of my learning experience in reading formed my ability to sound out words and pronounce them. The down side of this is that once formed as a habit it becomes hard to break. Once you know how to pronounce a word the repetitive use of that word over ones life should create the ability to speed up ones reading.

The other negative aspect of the over use of phonetics is that reading speed is further slowed down because students are taught not just to read but to understand and comprehend what they read. This often involves re-reading the same passages over and over. I know of many people who can't seem to break themselves of this habit. This habit is frowned upon in speed reading courses. The first thing I learned in speed reading classes was to read large amounts of information at a time. This is called skim reading and simply put you omit conjunctive words like "or" and prepositions like "of". As children we are taught that these methods are not good reading skills. The willingness to accept these new ideas is essential if you wish to learn speed reading.

3. Motivation

Motivation and desire are frequently used to fuel the development in learning to speed read. While learning the techniques of speed reading take but a short time, the real challenge is to practice, practice, practice and break your old slow habits. Then you will pick up your ability to improve your reading speed.

4. Practice

The old adage, "practice makes perfect", can never be understated when it comes to speed reading. As in all things, to break an old habit you must replace it with a new one or you will likely revert back to your old habit. So to conclude once you learn to speed read , never stop.

When your book club friends or co-workers see how fast you breeze through your reading with amazing speed they will envy you.