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Adam from Colorado asks:
Should I be saying the words in my head?
"I have a question about how one should read when they are reading silently.
I was recently talking to a friend who is a very good reader. He told me that when he reads, his eyes see the words and the words "click" (or rather the meaning of the words "click") in his brain and he understands them. He told me that when he sees numbers, they slow him down because he has to actually say them in his head.
I realized that when I am reading, I actually say every single word in my head, as if someone was reading it aloud to me.
So I have a few questions about this.
1: Which method is more efficient; actually saying every word in one's head, or being able to look at the
word and instantly understand its meaning?
2: As I suspect the latter, how does one acquire this?
One more, slightly off-topic question. Is it possible to learn to read multiple words at once? Is it possible to learn to see and understand say 2, 3 or even four words at once, so when you are reading you are able to read by moving your eyes less and less sideways and thus you can read much faster? If yes, how might one acquire this?
Thank you so much!"
Adam
Dear Adam,
You're question involves some very perceptive thinking, Adam. The answers you seek are part of on-going research on the brain and learning. We don't know exactly why some individuals can instantly go from print to meaning, and why others have an additional step of saying the words internally, which is called subvocalization. We just know that it exists and these differences are credited to learning styles.
You've probably heard of the three main learning style classifications, that of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Visual learners learn most easily by sight. For example, visual learners prefer to read directions when attempting a new skill. Auditory learners, however, learn most easily by hearing information, and using the same example, an auditory learner would prefer to be told how to do something rather than to read the directions. Kinesthetic learners learn best by doing something. They would love to have someone show them how to do something, and to work along side someone as they are learning, rather than reading or listening to instructions.
Everyone can learn using any of the three styles, but usually we have a strong preference for one of them. In the case of you and your friend's approaches to reading, I suspect that he has a visual learning predominance and you have an auditory one. Since reading involes print, auditory learners mediate the process of comprehending print by "hearing" themselves say the words internally. Both methods are effective, but the visual learners do tend to be raster readers overall. I do find, however, that auditory readers can have better comprehension, especially of the details, but this doesn't hold true for every reader.
Can an auditory reader switch to a straight print-to-meaning approach? The answer is "Yes," but it takes work. One program that helps you do this is called Speed Reading for Dyslexics. Please know that being an auditory learner does NOT mean that you are dyslexic. But I've found that this program works well for auditory readers who want to read more quickly. You can find information about their program at www.speedreading4kids.com. I've used it with students and have found it to be effective for those who are willing to do the suggested 15 minutes of practice each day. It's not a difficult program, but because you are retraining or overriding the brain's preferred reading method it takes some time and practice. But it does work.
I hope this is helpful, Adam. If you have any questions about the above, please write again.
Sincerely,
Deborah
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