Seven (7) wrong ways of reading

SEVEN (7) WRONG WAYS OF READING

Reading is the process of transforming printed texts, pictures and signs into meaningful messages that the mind can process. The reading process involves saccadic movements – forward jumping and pausing- of the eye and regressive movements – backward jumping and pausing – of the eye along lines of texts. The overall activity of reading is to form chains of words and numbers from which meaning can be extracted by the mind. Reading is a skill that can be honed till it becomes a very potent tool that the mind can use.

There are many ways of reading such as scanning, skimming, content reading, superficial reading, extensive reading and intensive reading. The rate of comprehension and reading speed can be adversely affected by wrong ways of reading. Some of these wrong ways include:

Pointing to words

Nothing slows down reading speed and comprehension rate like pointing to words. When words are pointed at when reading, the number or amount of words, phrases or sentences that the brain can process at a time is greatly reduced and reading becomes highly inefficient. When pointing at words, the mind is subconsciously told to process only what is pointed at while reading. Avoid pointing at words. Let the eye be free to capture as many words and sentences as it can do at a time. This way, reading speed and comprehension rate can be improved.

Head movements

This is when the head is moved from side to side along lines of text as reading progresses from line to line. This habit has been shown to have detrimental effect on reading speed. The only thing that should move when reading is done is the eye, moving the head from side to side when reading is a waste of muscle energy.

Vocalization

This is when words are said aloud as reading is going on. Sometimes it may be only lips moving without any sound coming from the vocal chords. This habit is not a good one and should be left for public speakers and showbiz people in television and radio stations. Reading aloud really slows down the reader and also tempers with comprehension rate. If it has become a habit, try to stop it and see the difference.

Sub-vocalization

This is a more difficult habit to spot. Sub-vocalization has been explained as the process of reading words aloud mentally without moving the lips and sometimes with almost imperceptible vibration of the vocal chords. Studies have shown that in very subtle cases that even the reader is not aware of it at all.

Small recognition span

Poor readers cannot take in a sizable number of words at a time. This is not good for comprehension rate and reading speed. The more in terms of words, phrases and sentences the eye can recognize and send to the brain at a time, the better the reading speed and comprehension rate of the reader. Take speed classes and do more pleasure reading to improve this span.