What is speed reading and how to apply it to your studies?

Have you heard of speed reading? It is a technique that can be very advantageous for those who are studying or will be facing important tests in the future.

In today's world, we have a high volume of information and increasingly constant demands for productivity, and this technique that aims to optimize the learning and reading process has gained prominence.

In this article we will learn more about dynamic reading, its benefits and how we can apply this practice to our studies.

What is speed reading?

Speed reading is a type of technique that seeks to increase the speed at which people read, but without compromising the comprehension and understanding of the text.

This technique helps you read more words per minute and still understand everything the text has to say.

It aims to eliminate slower reading habits such as subvocalization, for reading aloud internally, excessive eye movements and constant backtracking in the text.

The goal of speed reading is not just to read faster, but also to improve retention and comprehension of content.

The idea is to no longer read word by word, but rather to read groups of words or sentences at once.

Because our brain has the ability to process information more quickly, however, we often don't know this and end up not using this ability.

By reducing subvocalization and minimizing eye movements, it is possible to significantly increase reading speed. However, the emphasis is on the ability to still understand and retain the content of the text.

How to apply speed reading in studies?

Speed reading brings several benefits to those who manage to learn the practice, and it is nothing more than that, a practice or technique that will involve processes of trial and error, but in the end it will be worth it.

It is important to keep in mind that it is not enough to read quickly, dynamic reading is not about that, this technique is actually about reading quickly and still understanding what the text wants to say.

So let's see how it is possible to develop and apply speed reading to your studies.

Prepare the environment

It is important to prepare the environment so that you can read peacefully; it should be comfortable and quiet.

With an ideal space for this, you will have more peace of mind when reading and achieve more dynamism in your reading.

Eliminating noise prevents you from losing concentration more easily, allowing you to focus better on what you are reading.

Start with simple texts

Read simpler texts, such as short stories, short poems and chronicles, start with them as they are easier to understand and with this you can familiarize yourself with the techniques.

Over time, start reading different types of materials to adapt to different approaches.

Reduce subvocalization

Subvocalization is a habit that many of us have, it is a way of reading with your inner voice, but this ends up slowing down reading.

Start by reading aloud and gradually decrease the volume until only your eyes are moving.

Avoid setbacks

Practice moving forward without going back to reread passages. Your confidence in your ability to understand what you are reading will increase as you practice.

Practice gradually and build up steadily

Consistent practice is key. You’ve heard the saying “Practice makes perfect.” It’s true. Set aside time every day to practice speed reading. The more you practice, the more natural the technique will become.

Over time your speed will increase, start with a speed that is a little faster than what you are used to. As you gain confidence, continue to gradually increase your speed.

Benefits of speed reading

Speed reading is a practice that offers several benefits to those who master it and know how to apply it.

These benefits can be especially useful in a world where the amount of information we face on a daily basis is immense.

Mainly for those who are in a period of studies at school or courses, and needs to absorb more content in less time.

With this practice, those who benefit will be able to have more focus and concentration, since training focus is extremely important for the development of dynamic reading.

And with this reading incentive, focus and concentration are worked on at greater levels, since to practice you need an environment without many distractions.

And while speed reading involves faster reading, the technique also emphasizes comprehension and retention of content. Proper practice can lead to better absorption of information.

Additionally, eliminating practices such as subvocalization can help reduce fatigue while reading, making the process less exhausting.

Speed reading techniques

In addition to knowing how to apply it and what the benefits are, we can learn about two reading practices that can be applied, called skimming and scanning.

These are ways of obtaining information more quickly from texts, facilitating study and understanding.

Skimming and scanning are powerful techniques that can be effectively applied in studies to optimize information absorption, save time, and quickly identify key points in materials.

Skimming

Also known as skimming, skimming is the technique of quickly skimming texts to get a general idea of the content.

It is useful for study reviews without having to read every word, having a panoramic view.

To do this, you need to read the titles, subtitles and the first paragraphs, and if they have words or phrases in bold, they generally indicate important concepts.

Scanning

Scanning is the quick search for specific information in a text, so in this case, instead of reading all the sentences, you should look for words that correspond to what you are looking for.

For those who need to find specific information quickly, such as names, dates, numbers or specific details, this will be a great help.

Mainly for keywords in educational content, in subjects such as history, for example.