And finally, another argument in favor of vocalization harps back to very reason why we may vocalize in first place: because vocalization of text helps us in our skills of verbally pronouncing word being read.

Nonetheless, there are undoubtedly HUGE flaws with vocalization. One of these is need to re-read material that we have only just read, which is another commonly cited limitation on one's ability to speed read.

Vocalization - eliminating this bad habit

No tried and tested method of curing vocalization has come to forefront of speed reading techniques. Rather, what is often cited is need to cure problem through disciplining yourself not to speak out (vocalize) words that you are reading as you read them. However, if you have been reading for some time, re-training yourself so that you don't vocalize words can be exhausting and time consuming!

In this regard, one method that has become popular is to read using a marker. The argument goes that if you drag marker along page as you read, you are less likely to vocalize your words and more like to be able to read faster. Another method of avoiding vocalization is to readjust focus of your eyes. Adjusting focus of your eyes by zooming in on a word and then adjusting your eye focus outwards to see broader picture of a whole paragraph enables you to read faster as it increases number of words your eyes can focus on at any one time!

As you can see then, a willingness to accept new ideas is going to be essential if you want to learn to improve your reading speed.

3. Motivation

Although motivation may be considered similar to desire, essential difference is that not only do you need to have desire to learn, but you need to keep that desire for, potentially, a long period of time. In practice, learning proper speed reading technique only takes a very short time. But real test is in having to practice and practice everyday.

This means that a student of a speed reading course is going to need to maintain motivation to learn how to improve their reading speed over a prolonged period. Indeed, some would argue that you never stop learning to improve your reading speed.

4. Practice

The adage is “practice makes perfect”, and nowhere is this adage more appropriate than in reading learning process. Anyone who wishes to improve their reading speed is going to have to practice over prolonged periods.

Conclusion

To sum it up, if you want to learn how to improve your reading speed, all you is (i) desire; (ii) willingness; (iii) motivation; and (iv) practice.