Language at the Speed of Sight

Synopsis

According to a leading cognitive scientist, we've been teaching reading wrong. The latest science reveals how we can do it right.

In 2011, when an international survey reported that students in Shanghai dramatically outperformed American students in reading, math, and science, President Obama declared it a "Sputnik moment": a wake-up call about the dismal state of American education. Little has changed, however, since then: over half of our children still read at a basic level and few become highly proficient. Many American children and adults are not functionally literate, with serious consequences. Poor readers are more likely to drop out of the educational system and as adults are unable to fully participate in the workforce, adequately manage their own health care, or advance their children's education.

In Language at the Speed of Sight, internationally renowned cognitive scientist Mark Seidenberg reveals the underexplored science of reading, which spans cognitive science, neurobiology, and linguistics. As Seidenberg shows, the disconnect between science and education is a major factor in America's chronic underachievement. How we teach reading places many children at risk of failure, discriminates against poorer kids, and discourages even those who could have become more successful readers. Children aren't taught basic print skills because educators cling to the disproved theory that good readers guess the words in texts, a strategy that encourages skimming instead of close reading. Interventions for children with reading disabilities are delayed because parents are mistakenly told their kids will catch up if they work harder. Learning to read is more difficult for children who speak a minority dialect in the home, but that is not reflected in classroom practices. By building on science's insights, we can improve how our children read, and take real steps toward solving the inequality that illiteracy breeds.

Both an expert look at our relationship with the written word and a rousing call to action, Language at the Speed of Sight is essential for parents, educators, policy makers, and all others who want to understand why so many fail to read, and how to change that.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Revolution in Reading

* Summary: This chapter introduces the transformative power of rapid reading techniques, highlighting scientific evidence that shows how the brain can process written text much faster than traditional reading methods.
* Example: A study conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, found that subjects who underwent rapid reading training increased their reading speed by an average of 72% while maintaining comprehension levels.

Chapter 2: The Physiology of Reading

* Summary: This chapter explains the biological processes involved in reading, including eye movements, visual acuity, and neural pathways. It emphasizes the importance of optimizing these factors for efficient reading.
* Example: Saccades (rapid eye movements) are crucial for reading fluency, as they allow the eyes to quickly scan across lines of text. Rapid reading techniques train the brain to make smoother, more frequent saccades, reducing wasted time on unnecessary eye movements.

Chapter 3: Expanding Peripheral Vision

* Summary: This chapter introduces the concept of peripheral vision reading, which involves using the full width of the visual field to capture more text at once. Techniques for expanding peripheral vision are discussed.
* Example: The RSVP (Rapid Serial Visual Presentation) technique flashes words or phrases in the center of the visual field at high speeds, forcing the reader to rely on peripheral vision to process them quickly.

Chapter 4: Flexible Chunking

* Summary: This chapter explains the importance of organizing text into meaningful chunks rather than reading word-by-word. It discusses techniques for quickly identifying and grouping words based on their semantic and syntactic relationships.
* Example: The Chunking technique involves grouping related words into units, such as noun phrases or verb phrases, reducing the number of fixations required to process the text.

Chapter 5: Pattern Recognition and Prediction

* Summary: This chapter emphasizes the role of pattern recognition and prediction in rapid reading. It introduces techniques for developing a visual vocabulary and recognizing common word patterns and phrases.
* Example: The Cloze technique involves filling in missing words from a text, training the brain to use context clues and pattern recognition for faster comprehension.

Chapter 6: The Role of Subvocalization

* Summary: This chapter explains the phenomenon of subvocalization, or the habit of sounding out words in our heads while reading. It discusses techniques for suppressing subvocalization to increase reading speed.
* Example: The Paced Reading technique uses a metronome or other rhythmic device to control the speed at which text is read, reducing the tendency to subvocalize and forcing the reader to focus on visual cues instead.

Chapter 7: Improving Memory and Comprehension

* Summary: This chapter addresses common misconceptions about rapid reading and its impact on comprehension. It introduces techniques for improving memory and recall while reading quickly.
* Example: The SQ3R technique involves previewing, questioning, reading, reciting, and reviewing the material, enhancing retention and understanding.

Chapter 8: Advanced Techniques

* Summary: This chapter introduces advanced rapid reading techniques, such as speed skipping and skimming, which allow readers to extract specific information from a text quickly and efficiently.
* Example: Speed skipping involves jumping over sections of text that are not relevant to the reader's purpose, while skimming involves scanning a text to gather a general overview of its content.