Speed Reading: Anyone recommend a technique?

[Suzanne]

Hi All,
I have a buddy at Sonoma State who is a slow reader. She's in the first week of nursing school. Do any of you have direct experience or knowledge of a technique that works? a class, a coach etc?

And/or: are there any classes that teach you how to study? How to take notes etc?

Many thanks for any help and information.
Cheers,
Suzanne

[Braggi]

Have your friend try using a finger to smoothly move across each line and get out of the habit of speaking the words in her mind as she reads them. These are simple techniques yet every speadreading and coprehension training is based on them. Just using a fingertip (or a pen or pencil) to draw your eyes more quickly across each line will increase speed 100% and increase retention substantially the first time you try it. It works for everyone. Keeping the speed consistent is fairly important. Avoid the trap of reading one word at a time and "speaking" it inside your head. Sentences and phrases can be digested as a single "object" instead of as a group of individual words that must be understood individually and then assembled in the mind as concepts. If a line isn't understood just go over it again.

Speed reading works. The more complex the the written material, the more it helps with coprehension and retention too. Kind of amazing really.

Best of luck to your friend!

-Jeff

[Suzanne]

Jeff... thank you for your response! This is very useful.
Cheers,
Suzanne