Will you forget speed reading?
Picture by jemsweb
Speed reading will help you save time on reading as it will allow you to increase your reading speed. On the average, after completion of a speed reading course and sufficient individual training most people are capable of doubling their initial reading speed. Speed reading skills are useful in many professions, especially for office work. In addition, you will benefit from these skills when reading for studying or leisure.
If you want to increase you reading speed then you have to learn new reading techniques. It can be achieved though participation in a speed reading course, which can be either a classroom or on-line course. Alternatively you may study on your own from a book or using computer software for that. These new skills have to be hardened, so you have to practice speed reading for at least one month.
Some people think that speed reading does not work, because they have hoped that it is possible to become a super fast reader just in one day (or even faster). It is not true. At the same time, exercises you have to perform for increasing you reading speed are not so difficult. And 45 minutes a day is enough. So it takes patience and consistence, but practically everyone can do it.
But what happens afterwards? You have become a fast reader and what next. Will you forget these skills? Could it be that after six month you are slow as you were before?
If you have practiced enough and acquired correct techniques for speed reading then you will not forget it. In that sense speed reading is a life time skill. It can be compared to learning to ride a bicycle or learning to swim. You can’t forget it.
But at the same time if you do not apply these skills regularly then your reading speed will decrease to some extent. For example, if you have managed to increase you reading speed from 250 words per minute to 550, then it can be that you can manage to read only at 425 words per minute six month after completing the course if you have not worked on yourself later. It is like practicing sports, you will not forget the basics, but in order to achieve a good result you have to be in top form.
Fortunately, it is not so difficult to apply speed reading techniques everyday. For example, reading with out moving your eyes backwards is something you can always follow. Or the principle, that you have to concentrate while reading and avoid distractions.
If you have learned techniques for fast reading then you can always take it up and practice in order to increase you reading speed. But actually you do not have to be a superfast reader. It is beneficial if you can read 2 or 3 time faster then average person does, but reaching speeds 1000 words per minute and above, will not give you so much additional advantage. If you want to work efficiently, then your ability to prioritize texts and select your reading material is more important. You have to read wisely not just fast.
In the speed reading courses you will learn how to preview texts, set goals for reading, read selectively and improve your comprehension. You will benefit from these techniques even if you do not actually read at very fast speed. And you will not forget these skills even if you reading speed drops to some extent.
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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. 