Fast Effective Reading Course - Follow-up Exercises
Chunking – Reading in Groups of Words
We were taught to read one word at a time. When we write, we do not think in words, we think in concepts – small units of thought, which gradually build into larger ones. We should read in the same way.
We all have a wide range of vision, made up largely by our peripheral vision. We should use more of it when we read and capture the ideas in one fixation rather than looking at individual words. This also called “chunking”.
You will probably recall the following exercises from the course.
We start with drills to help you widen your span of “chordal” or central vision.
Then we progress to reading in groups of words at speeds of choosing. Simply follow the instructions on the pages concerned.
Sub-vocalisation
Don’t be concerned if you think you are still sub-vocalising all the words. You almost certainly aren’t though it is hard to tell. Focus on the sound of the “working words” e.g. the nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs (if you can recall what these are!).
By deliberately hearing the sound of these words, you can drown the sound of the very familiar “connecting” words.
In this last sentence, for example, you would hear deliberately hearing sound words drown sound
familiar “connecting” words.
We speak at about 220 words per minute. So, if you can read at 400 wpm or above, it really is impossible to hear all the words in your head, so you are already reducing the sound without you realising it.
Start with Widening eye span drills then progress on to the chunking exercises.
Widening eye span drill A Start exercise
Widening eye span drill B Start exercise
Widening eye span drill C Start exercise
Widening eye span drill D Start exercise
Now try the chunking exercises.
First choose whether you want to read at a fast speed, medium fast or medium speed.
Click on the link of your choice
Exercise A - What it's all about Fast Medium Fast Medium
Exercise B -Trip to Dullard (Bill Bryson) Fast Medium Fast Medium
Exercise C - A Cat's Strange Habits Fast Medium Fast Medium
Tip: Push yourself beyond what you think you are capable of.
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Anti-regression exercises