How to READ FASTER: 2 tricks

Summary

In this video, James from engVid explains how reading can significantly improve your English skills by teaching you new vocabulary, ideas, and language structure. He introduces two techniques to help speed up reading: 'grouping,' where you read two words at a time, and 'pacing,' where you use your finger to guide your eyes, maintaining a steady speed. These methods aim to reduce reading time, improve comprehension, and enhance memory retention. James also offers a bonus challenge to further improve reading speed, encouraging viewers to practice daily for progressive improvement.

Takeaways

• 😀 Reading is a fast way to improve English skills, especially for learners, as it helps expand vocabulary, enhance speaking, and improve comprehension.
• 😀 The process of reading can help you learn new ideas, vocabulary, and grammar structures, especially in a foreign language.
• 😀 Reading aids in understanding a language’s structure, making it easier to speak and use vocabulary in context.
• 😀 Reading in a new language can feel slow and difficult due to constant translation, but improving reading speed can reduce this problem.
• 😀 One common issue with reading is forgetting what you've read because of translating back and forth between languages.
• 😀 Two key techniques can improve reading speed and comprehension: 'grouping' and 'pacing'.
• 😀 'Grouping' involves reading two words at a time instead of one, which helps increase reading speed and comprehension.
• 😀 Pacing involves moving your eyes at a steady speed across the text, using a tool like your finger to guide your eyes and prevent backtracking.
• 😀 Improving reading speed requires consistent practice, ideally 10 minutes daily, starting with grouping and then incorporating pacing for better results.
• 😀 A bonus technique for speeding up reading involves forcing your brain to read quickly, making it easier to comprehend at normal speeds afterward.
• 😀 The homework involves practicing reading for one minute using a speed tracker and gradually increasing your words-per-minute count for improved efficiency.

Q & A

Why is reading important for improving English skills?

Reading helps you learn new vocabulary, understand sentence structures, and get familiar with colloquial language. It enhances comprehension and broadens your understanding of language, which is crucial for both speaking and writing in English.

What are some common problems faced while reading in a second language?

Common issues include translating every word, which slows down reading, forgetting what you've read due to information overload, and struggling to understand material because of these delays.

What are the two techniques James suggests for improving reading speed?

The two techniques are 'grouping' and 'pacing.' Grouping involves reading multiple words at once instead of one word at a time, while pacing involves using a finger or a pen to guide your reading, helping to maintain a steady speed without jumping back.

How does the 'grouping' technique work?

The grouping technique involves reading two or more words at once instead of reading word by word. This helps increase reading speed by reducing the time spent on individual words and helps the brain process information more efficiently.

What is 'sub-vocal reading' and why is it a problem?

Sub-vocal reading refers to silently pronouncing the words in your head as you read. It slows down your reading speed because it limits how much information you can process at once. By using grouping, you can reduce this inner voice and read more efficiently.

Why is it important to practice grouping and pacing regularly?

Regular practice helps your eyes and brain adjust to faster reading speeds. Over time, your eyes will naturally expand their field of vision, allowing you to process more words at once, which will increase both speed and comprehension.

How does 'pacing' differ from 'grouping'?

Pacing involves moving a finger or pen along the text to guide your eyes, helping maintain a consistent reading speed. It prevents you from backtracking and ensures that you stay focused on the text, while grouping focuses on reading multiple words at once.

What should you do if pacing feels too fast initially?

If pacing feels too fast, you should start slower and gradually increase the speed as you become more comfortable. The key is to keep your eyes moving without pausing, which helps improve your reading flow over time.

How can pacing help improve your reading comprehension?

Pacing helps prevent you from jumping back to previous sentences or words, which often happens when you read too slowly. This consistent forward movement helps maintain focus and ensures that information stays in your mind, improving comprehension.

What is the 'bonus' technique James suggests to further enhance reading speed?

The bonus technique involves intentionally reading faster than comfortable, which forces your brain to process information quickly. After doing this, you should then slow down and notice how your eyes naturally begin to group words together, increasing your reading speed and comprehension.