If You'd Like
To Know Why Reading Matters
by Barbara Freedman-De Vito
Here Are Some of the Reasons Why Reading Is
So Important for Children
Why Do We Tell Children to Read? We're always telling
children that books and reading are good for them,
but have we ever really thought about why that's
true ? Exactly what do older children get out of
reading novels ? What do younger kids get from reading
children's stories and being read to ? Does reading
matter?
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SPEED READING TIPS
Benefits of Speed Reading
by Melvin Ng
A question that is often asked of speed reading trainers
is whether or not anyone can improve their reading speed.
The simple, straightforward, answer to this question is
"yes", they can. However, this is not to say
that the leaner will not have to provide some input of
their own: after all, all learning is a form of trade-off.
In this regard, the following are seen as the four essential
elements that a student of speed reading will need to
bring with them if they want to learn to speed read:
1. A desire to improve
Strange as it may seem, not everyone is willing to accept
that there is a better method of reading than the one
currently being used by the student. Most likely, the
student has learnt their current reading method at a very
formative age - probably on their mother's knee. As a
result, it can be hard to try and convince students to
adapt to new methods of reading, a skill we see as so
fundamental, none of us is really willing to accept that
we do not know how to do it, and do it well, already.
Therefore, a real desire to improve your reading speed
is the first essential element you'll need to bring with
you to class.
2. A willingness to accept new ideas
Another concept that we learn in our formative years is
to sound out our words (technically called subvocalize)
as we read them. In part this is done so that we learn
how to pronounce the word, not read it! However, in later
life this habit can be extremely difficult to break. But,
if you want to be able to improve your reading speed,
it is a habit you will have to break.
In addition, most of are taught at some stage in our life
that if we have not comprehended, or understood, what
we have just read, to go back and reread the passage.
Again, this is a habit which speed reading courses see
as a no-no. You will have to discard it if you want to
improve your reading speed. However, it's not easy to
do.
Finally, whichever of the speed reading methodologies
you select to learn, it is likely that you'll need to
learn to read large chunks of information at the same
time, or to skim read. As children we are taught that
these practices are not good for us - we will likely miss
information, or misinterpret it.
As you can see then, a willingness to accept new ideas
is going to be essential if you want to learn to improve
your reading speed.
3. Motivation
Although motivation may be considered similar to desire,
the essential difference is that not only do you need
to have the desire to learn, but you need to keep that
desire for, potentially, a long period of time. In practice,
learning the proper speed reading technique only takes
a very short time. But the real test is in having to practice
and practice everyday. This means that a student of a
speed reading course is going to need to maintain the
motivation to learn how to improve their reading speed
over a prolonged period. Indeed, some would argue that
you never stop learning to improve your reading speed.
4. Practice
The adage is "practice makes perfect", and nowhere
is this adage more appropriate than in the reading learning
process. Anyone who wishes to improve their reading speed
is going to have to practice over prolonged periods.
Conclusion
To sum it up, if you want to learn how to improve your
reading speed, all you is (i) desire; (ii) willingness;
(iii) motivation; and (iv) practice.
About the Author
Melvin Ng teaches speed reading through his 16-Minute
Speed Reading Audio Program. This breakthrough technique
Guarantees to Double your reading speed in just 16 minutes!
http://www.bestspeedreadingcourse.com |
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