Why Do People Read Slowly?
The reading speed of every person will not be same. Some people can naturally read fast or slow. Some people can remember the components much better than others. There is also the fear that many people have that if we manage to read faster, we’ll skip something, or we won’t fully comprehend or enjoy what we’re reading if we skip a couple of words.
Below are few of the reasons influencing an individual’s reading speed.
Focus
There is no alternative of concentration to improve speed-reading. No matter what the technique readers follow without concentration he cannot achieve the ultimate understanding of the material.
Reading Vocabulary
Good knowledge of vocabulary is essential in speed-reading process. Many readers have a little idea about many words. Most of the time we are stuck in the middle of the reading and try to find out the meaning of those. According to Rauch and Weinstein, any systematic plan to improve vocabulary will have a positive effect upon speed of comprehension and reading speed.
Habits
Another thing that adds to a child becoming a slow reader is fostering a negative attitude towards reading. Some of the bad reading habits that individuals possess they have nurtured over a lifetime. Being taught by a slow reader is especially detrimental to a child since he or she might pass on some bad reading habits to the child. If people have the following attitudes, they will surely have slow reading speed:
Reading is no fun at all.
Reading is boring.
Reading is tiresome.
Reading hurts my eyes.
Reading takes too much time.
I forget what I have read.
I would far rather watch a movie.
With training, you can stop these habits and significantly boost your reading speed.
Subvolisation
Subvocalization means saying the words quietly to yourself while you read.
Focus
There is no alternative of concentration to improve speed-reading. No matter what the technique readers follow without concentration he cannot achieve the ultimate understanding of the material.
Word-by-Word reading
Reading a text one word at a time. Not only does this decrease a person’s reading speed. Also, it has been said by reading experts that reading word by word decreases a reader’s understanding of the material. The idea is for you to have a wider eye span wherein you can capture two to four words in no time then eventually progress to whole sentences then whole paragraphs.
All the above stated factors are greatly responsible for slowing down the speed of your reading. For attaining the ability of speed reading, you should be able to read about two to three times faster then the speed at which you can speak. Doing regular practice and following simple methods, anyone can get the skill of fast reading.