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Start of Chapter : Develop your fluency
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Learn the Regulator Technique
The primary technique you can use to improve your reading speed is the regulator technique. This is a simple yet very effective way to learn to read books and other written material faster. It works best because you can use it on your own material, at your own pace, in your own time. Many of the other "bells and whistles" of speed reading courses are there to make them seem different from their competition.
Leading speed-reading coaches teach this technique worldwide. Rick Ostrov, author of Power Reading (a top ranked book on speed reading at Amazon.com), says that the regulator technique "is the best method for increasing reading speed and effectiveness." Charles Van Doren, author of "How to Read a Book" (another top seller at Amazon.com), says "...it is not necessary to employ any device more sophisticated than your own hand."
Here's how to learn the regulator technique:
Stage 1: Apply the regulator
Run your finger, pencil or pen (capped) along underneath the line you are reading. If you are reading on the computer screen, use your mouse. Your finger, pencil, pen or mouse is your "regulator." When you finish that line, you move your regulator down to the next line and do the same again. Keep your eyes above the regulator, however make sure you read the words and not watch your regulator! Keep your eyes loosely focused, rather than peering hard at each word. In this first stage, just get comfortable having the regulator there. Don't try to pick up your speed. Slow down if the passage becomes harder to read in places.
Aim to spend at least 10-15 minutes a day using this technique. Do it for all reading from now on, including what you are reading now! If you find it's distracting you from an important reading assignment, go back to your normal reading practice during the assignment. Restart using the regulator after that.
You may find that, even in stage 1, your reading speed increases. The increase might not be drastic, but enough to make the exercise worthwhile. How? It helps your pace while reducing regression over words, lines and sentences you've already read.
Which regulator should you use – finger, pencil or pen? It's up to you, but if you're reading to learn, I suggest using a pen or pencil. You can underline, tick or mark important passages as well as mark new words straight away.
Adults: You might find it embarrassing to use this exercise in front of others for fear of looking like you are learning to read. Simply explain you are doing a speed-reading course and most people will usually want to know more!
Stage 2: Shorten the regulator's distance
Now that you're comfortable using the regulator, the next stage is to shorten how far the regulator travels across each line. You might have already started doing this if you found it hard to keep the regulator up to the same pace as your reading.
Aim to cover the middle half to two-thirds of each line. Start part of the way in, and don't go all the way to the end. Make sure you still read each word though, and again don't try to push yourself just yet. Make sure you are still reading the words and understanding what you are reading. Go back and test yourself if necessary.
Again, aim to spend 10 to 15 minutes a day for another 2 to 3 days, at least, doing this. In the next stage we'll start increasing the speed of the regulator, so for now keep up your regular pace.
Stage 3: Do speed drills
Now it's time to start increasing the speed of your regulator. Below you will find some speed drills to use. Start with the basic drills for a week, then the intermediate drills for a week, and then the advanced drills for a week. Aim to do one of these exercises every day for 10-15 minutes. If you want to gain more speed, do two or more each day. For example, do one in the morning and one in the evening (keep in mind the principles of repetition from Memletics– space them out).
Instead of simply speeding up your regulator, you will see the drills involve going back over to your material at a faster pace. This helps "train your brain" to speed up your reading while still keeping up comprehension.
An important point here is to keep your drills and normal reading separate for now. The reading material you use for your practice and drills should not come from subjects or topics you are learning now. Find a book that has many similar pages (preferably without diagrams or pictures), with good line spacing and text size. It should be reasonably easy for you to read and understand at your current level. This will be your "drill book."
During the drills, you focus on improving speed first and keeping up comprehension second. When you are reading to learn, comprehension comes first. The speed drills will also increase your speed during your normal reading.
Here are the drills to use over the coming weeks:
- Basic speed drill 1 (15 mins). Go to a section in your chosen drill book that you haven't read before. Mark your starting point then start reading at your normal pace. Don't try to speed up during this first read. At the end of 10 minutes, mark your finish point. Now go back to your starting point and reread what you just read. This time, aim to "read" the same amount of material in 5 minutes. Use your regulator to make sure your eyes move over every word of every line, but just do it faster. Keep up an even pace so you finish within five minutes. If you go over the allotted time, just redo the exercise at a faster pace next time.
Register as many words as you can during the fast section. For this drill, don't worry if you don't register all of them. At the end of the exercise, write in your course booklet. You only need to do this once a day, however feel free to do it a few times a day for maximum impact.
- Basic speed drill 2 (20 mins). This drill is essentially the same as basic speed drill 1, with one small addition. At the end of your 10-minute read, write some simple notes that describe what you read. Use a notepad or some other spare paper. Take about one to two minutes. Then do the five-minute read. After that, spend another minute adding a few more notes to your list.
- Intermediate speed drill 1 (15 mins). This is similar to basic speed drill 1. After completing the five-minute read, reread the material in two minutes. Make sure you read every line, but keep up the pace.
This is also a good time to start using speed paths from stage 4 below. Choose one of the speed paths and use it during this drill. For instance, run your regulator down the page, not across every line.
- Intermediate speed drill 2 (20 mins). Same as intermediate speed drill 1, but add the review task. After each ten, five and two minute read, spend a minute writing some simple notes.
- Advanced speed drill 1 (25 minutes). Mark a starting spot and start reading at your normal pace. After five minutes, stop and mark the ending spot. Count the number of pages and multiply this by three – this is your target page count. If you read a page and a half, then your target page count is about four and a half pages. Mark a starting spot in new material, count your target pages forward and mark your end spot. Start reading and aim to finish the first time in 12 minutes. You will need to read slightly faster. At the end, spend one minute writing some notes on what you read. Then, reread the material in 6 minutes. Add to your notes.
- Advanced speed drill 1 (40 mins). Do advanced speed drill 1 with these differences: Multiply your target page count by 5, complete the first reading in 20 minutes, and the second reading in 10 minutes.
Stage 4: Choose your speed path
As your speed increases, you may find your regulator has trouble keeping up with your eyes. You can now choose a speed path for your regulator that suits you. Instead of moving your regulator across underneath each line, try moving it in one of the following paths: Down the middle of the page, down the margin, in a large S or Z pattern down the page, or several Z's down the page. For online reading, try running the mouse down the middle or side of the text. Combine your experimentation with more speed drills for 10-15 minutes a day for a week.
Previously, you were using your regulator to keep your place on each line. Now you are using your regulator to keep your place on the page. You still read each line though.
No one path is better than the others are. Choose one you find most comfortable. You might also try changing your regulator depending on which reading mode you are in (e.g. fast or slow). For example, you might go back to the line-by-line pattern while reading complex or important passages.
Using the regulator technique
Using the regulator technique with the speed drills over four weeks can dramatically improve fluency. After you've completed the four-week course, commit to doing a few speed drills each month. This will preserve and even further improve your overall fluency. Even experienced readers will find the exercises helpful.
A question you may have is. "Do I ever stop using the regulator?" The answer is,"It's up to you." Many people continue to use the regulator technique for all their reading. You might like to stop when you read for leisure, or if you feel you read well without it. Start using it again if you feel your speed slowing, while reading important material, or if your concentration is lacking.
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