The #5 method to learn how to speed read is building your vocabulary – especially within a certain area of knowledge. This is especially beneficial when you have to research a new topic or learn a new concept either for work or school.

What happens when we are learning something new or branching out into a new field is that we tend to get bogged down or stuck in difficult text. Now, the vast majority of us learn new words (or different semantic inflections of old words) by context. We come across a word that we do not know or that we are unfamiliar with in its current usage and so we read around it to learn its meaning by context. This is extremely common, but it is not always effective and it takes time.

I remember that for every new class I had to take to get my masters degree, I had to learn a new vocabulary. This is also true for me in the workplace – it seems that every field has its own vernacular. Every time I branched out into another direction as a part of my job, I had to read a great deal of field related material. It was horribly monotonous and yet unavoidable if I wanted to be successful.

When you are reading and you come upon a new word that you do not know or a word that you do not understand in its current usage, stop and look it up! I know what you are thinking: “This is a speed reading site and you are telling me to stop reading and look up a word?” The answer is YES.

The reason is simple. Every time you look up a new word you not only learn it for that instance, but you also save the time it would take you to figure out the word contextually each and every time you encounter it.Because if this word is related to a new field of study, then you will encounter this word again and again. How many times will you need to discover its meaning through context before you get it right and remember it. Not only that, but discovering the meaning of a word by context is not always successful and it can be vague at best. By looking up the word, you will have it right the first time and you will not need to slow your reading speed again for that word.

It takes additional time initially, but it saves you time in the long run. It will also increase your overall comprehension of everything in the new field. Once you no longer need to look up words, you know that you have increased your vocabulary to that of the experts who actually write about the field you are in.

Now, this method is not just for those of us who are considering new fields of study, learning, and/or business. This also works for everything that you read. As a test, pick up a magazine or newspaper and read a decent sized article. Your goal is to circle any word if you are not 100% sure of its definition. Once you are done, look back and see how many words you have circled. The odds are good that you have circled at least one word – and maybe several.

The exercises for this method are long term. What I want you to do is to stop every time you come across a word that you do not know and look it up. If you are online, it is simple enough to look up the word with just a mouse click. Then I want you to make a notation of the word.

If you are reading hard copy, then you can look the word up online or in your desktop dictionary. Make a note of the word in the margin of whatever you are reading. The act of noting the word will increase your ability to remember the word next time.

In the long run, this method is by far the most beneficial to you in both your occupation and your personal life. It also takes the most time – but it is certainly worth it.

NOTE: If you are serious about learning how to speed read, we highly recommend you check out this popular speed read learning software