Click Here To Learn How To Speed Read The Fast Way
measure reading speed
Many people read regularly texts in many different languages. Still, for most of us there is only one native language. In case of speed reading, most people start with it in their mother tongue. But is it possible to apply these skills to texts written in foreign languages? Can we speed read in French, Spanish or Russian?
Speed reading techniques are on the general not language-specific. For example, the principle that you should avoid backward eye movement while reading will increase your reading speed in any language. So these skills can be applied to texts written in different languages. It is difficult to say if the speed reading techniques would be applied more efficiently to some specific languages.
Still, it cannot be neglected that the average reading speeds for text written in different languages are not the same. In case of English language, the words tend to be somewhat shorter on the average than in other languages. This leads to a fact that the reading speeds in English measured in words per minute are somewhat faster. The average reading speed for an average reader is about 180-250 words per minute for texts written in English. For German texts the average speed is about 20% lower. However, it does not mean that you can apply speed reading better to English than German texts. It will allow increasing the reading speed in case of both languages although the speed will be always somewhat higher in English.
So it is possible to speed read in different languages, but can we do it in foreign languages? The answer to that question is yes. If you have acquired speed reading skills then you can apply them to English, German, French or whatever language. Of course you should have pretty good fluency in that language. If your command of the language is poor then you cannot efficiently apply speed reading methods to this language. For example, my native language is Estonian, but I am also able to speed read texts in English. I can read texts in German or Russian too, but I really cannot speed read them as my German and Russian skills are not so good.
If you start learning speed reading techniques then it is recommended to do it in your mother tongue first. Even your command in foreign language is excellent it would be easier to read in your native language. You have to learn the techniques properly and it is easier to focus on them if you are reading it in your native languages. So you have to practice and be cautious.
After you have obtained speed reading skills and feel confident in applying them to your everyday reading then you can start speed reading in foreign languages too. Actually it is not so difficult at all. I was able to apply speed reading skills for text in English about a month after I started to learn speed reading. Still, your reading speed in foreign languages will be somewhat slower than in your mother tongue.
About the Author:
Kristjan-Olari Leping is a speed reading and time management trainer and associate professor of economics at the University of Tartu, Estonia. I will share my experiences with you and will teach you how to read faster. Visit my website and learn 7 speed reading techniques for free.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Can we Speed Read in Foreign Languages?
Speed Reading part 2 – Test yourself and silence the inner voice
