Speed reading in different languages
Speed reading is a general skill in the sense that it can be applied to texts written in different languages. It means that if you have obtained the speed reading skills then you are able to read at fast speed texts in English, German, French or whatever language. Of course you have to be able to understand that language, but the speed reading techniques itself are not language specific.
It is very difficult to judge if the speed reading techniques would be applied more easily to some languages than the other ones. Still, there exist some differences in the average reading speed if we measure it by words per minute. In different languages the average length of a word is not equal. For example in English, the words tend to be somewhat shorter on the average than in other languages. It means that the reading speeds in English measured in words per minute are somewhat faster. For texts written in English, the average reading speed in about 180-250 words per minute. In case of German language the average reading speed is said to be about 20% slower. But this does not mean that for German language the benefits of speed reading are smaller than for English. Speed reading will increase the reading speed in case of both languages although the speed will be always slightly higher in English.
If you are starting to learn speed reading then I would recommend you to use texts in you mother tongue for practice. Even your command in foreign language is excellent it would be easier to read in your native language. If the text is easier to read then you can focus more on your reading techniques.
My free speed reading tips are written in English, but it does not mean that you can not make use of them if English is not your native language. As these tips will provide you the descriptions of speed reading techniques and exercises for practicing speed reading then you can choose for practicing speed reading on your own in your mother tongue. Later, when you have already acquired the speed reading skills, then you can apply them to texts written in foreign languages too. However, you reading speed in foreign language will remain some what slower in comparison to your native language if you have an excellent command of that foreign language.
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My name is Kristjan-Olari Leping. I am a speed reading trainer. I have an associated professor position at the University of Tartu, am a policy analyst in a policy research center, I am a trainer and I am involved in many other business projects. 