Hindrances to efficient reading and how they can be overcome

  

Date Posted: 10/19/2011 10:20:18 AM

Posted By: walteym  Membership Level: Gold  Total Points: 1895

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Reading efficiently means translating combinations of symbols in study materials, selecting, assimilating and retaining their meaning with minimum waste of time or energy. Below are some of the factors which prevent students from studying economically and suggested ways on how they can be overcome.

1. Vocalizing
One of the ways in which we can waste time and energy is by reading out aloud. Vocalizing means pronouncing each word and this is a time waster. Vocalizing creates a longer chain of understanding materials more than is necessary. This is because after visual perception of the material under study, a transmission is sent to the brain, decoded, vocalized and mental stimuli (whether one understands or not) made afterwards. One of the important rules in reading is that one should try as much as possible to visualize the message and try to understand it as it is. This can only be achieved through silent reading.

2. Finger reading
In lower classes in school, pupils are taught to underline each word with their fingers as they read so as to improve their concentration. In higher levels of learning however, this is only considered a major time waster. Where speed reading is mostly encouraged, finger reading tends to slow a person down in the process of reading. If one cannot concentrate on some given text without finger reading, then he or she should place a ruler beneath the line that is currently being read as this improves on speed.

3. Background noise
When it comes to reading, some students actually prefer background noise such as music to a quite place. If this is your preference, then do not worry that you are not reading as you are supposed to. Rather, you should try to create such an environment, as long as it does not interfere with other readers. The point

here is that a student should create the level of noise (if desirable) that enables him or her to read most efficiently.

4. Emotional distractions
Emotions such as joy, anger, fear or anxiety can serve to distract a reader from his or her materials. It is common knowledge that one should not read when emotions are overwhelming them as this will only be a waste of time. Rather, one should try to relax first through engaging in a sport for example and read afterwards.

5. Mental distractions
Just like emotional distractions, mental distractions such as day-dreaming, absent-mindedness or mental wandering can render a reader incapable of assimilating the message contained in the material under study. For efficient reading, one should identify when the mental distractions set in and take a break, preferably a walk, until he or she is ready to concentrate again.

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