Speed ​​reading definition:

Taking a pretty broad stance on what exactly “speed reading” means, I see it as any reading speed from about 500 WPM (words per minute) or faster, up to about 2000 WPM, at which point I’d imagine enjoying or remembering. the text becomes almost impossible for most English-speaking humans.

For reference, my regular comfortable reading speed is about 600-700 words per minute, and all my life teachers, students, family, and friends have had a hard time believing that I have actually read the (article/book/homework, etc) at that time. speed, so by popular perception I would definitely set 650 WPM as the read speed.

I also learned from Ace Reader Pro speed reading software to boost up to 1100-1200 WPM if needed (which has been useful for college reading, personal reading, critical reading sections on standardized tests like SAT or ACT, research, and business). ). I will talk more about Ace Reader Pro later.

Definition of subvocalization:

Subvocalization is essential “silent speech,” your internal dialogue while reading to yourself. We all subvocalize in our own personal way when we read.

Subvocalizing is both good and bad: it’s good in one sense, because having a dialogue between you and the text is important for understanding and remembering what you’ve just read. However, subvocalization should be avoided or minimized in cases where it prevents speed reading.

The most damaging versions of subvocalization are those that involve larger muscle movements, for example, if you’re obviously pronouncing most of the words while reading. This reduces your reading speed to the speed of your physical speech.

Speech, or “vocalization,” is much slower to communicate ideas and details than reading is to understand those ideas. Therefore, any significant level of subvocalization that links reading speed to speaking speed should be avoided.

If you currently use excessive subvocalization, but want to learn to speed read, you’ll need to practice retraining your mind on this basic skill. Because you’ve probably been practicing the “wrong way” for so long, it will take some effort and time for you to achieve a more efficient and effective way of reading, almost like learning to walk again.

Fortunately, it’s not very difficult, it just takes practice. I have two suggestions. One is something you can practice, and the other is a software program that uses modern technology to easily and quickly defeat subvocalization and improve your reading skills to help you learn speed reading.

Application of subvocalization to improve reading:

Now that we know why we should avoid excessive subvocalization if we want to be speed readers…

…this is how we can apply our new knowledge of subvocalization.

If you’re having trouble fighting the urge to mentally or physically “say” words out loud while reading, here’s an exercise for you.

Choose a moderate level text that is comfortable for your reading abilities. Now, choose a short and simple word that you enjoy. I love the color blue, so my word is “Blue!”

Now, practice reading the words of the text with your eyes while mentally repeating “blue… blue… blue…” in your head (make sure you don’t say the word “blue” while reading, or you’re just reinforcing a new bad habit!)

If you start to move your mouth, lips, or jaw, take a break and try again. If you need to change the word after a while, that’s fine.

This method can help you Permanently prevent subvocalization with about a month of one-hour-a-day practice.

Ace Reader Pro Subvocalization Enhancement Software:

Well, I promised you a review of speed reading software that helps prevent subvocalization. Ace Reader Pro is the best reading enhancement software I have used in all my years as a student and educator. It also comes highly recommended from various sources.

Ace Reader Pro incorporates some great and effective visual aids to help you decrease your subvocalization and even help you improve your “regression” skills, which is a whole other subject of speed reading! (Basically, “regression” is any unnecessary rereads that lower your read WPMs.) Ace Reader Pro is even a bit of fun for a purely educational program!

Read the full Ace Reader Pro review via the link below!