The #4 method to learn to speed read is not actually something that you have to learn so much as it is something that you have to unlearn. We all have an inner voice that we use when we read. Actually, most of us think that our inner voice is helping us to read faster.

When we were learning to read, we learned from a phonetical method – that is, we sounded out the words. I can still hear my mother telling me, “sound it out.” This is great when we are first learning to read. It is also the best way to learn new words and even to learn a new language.

Once we had learned the basics of reading, instead of reading aloud, we were told to read silently. Unfortunately, that generally meant that we just used an inner voice (or subvocalization). You can see it when you watch someone reading – when they are truly concentrating on the text, what happens? Their lips move! Sure, they are not reading aloud where you might hear them, but they are reading aloud in their minds.

We all do it to some extent. We even believe that it helps. Actually, subvocalization caps your reading speed. And why is that? Because your eyes and your brain are actually MUCH faster than your mouth. Your eyes and your brain have to slow down their reading speed in order to accommodate the slower speed of your mouth.

Here is a test:

Go back to the first section about focus point guiding (it is the #1 method). That section is just under 600 words long. I want you to time yourself reading this section out loud. It took me just under 3 minutes to read the text out loud, but your reading time may vary. Now I want you to go back and read that exact text again, but this time focus on NOT using your inner voice at all. Read silently and do not allow yourself to read with your inner voice – it may take some practice depending on how much you are accustomed to subvocalizing.

Pretty amazing difference isn’t it? I know that I nearly cut my time in half the second time. So this one method alone can double your reading speed.

If you found it difficult to eliminate your inner voice, it’s ok. It can take a lot of practice. However, even just minimising your inner voice can increase your speed reading ability quite a bit.

Now I want you to consider this: if you can eliminate your inner voice when you read AND use focus point guiding AND read in bunches, how fast will you be able to read? I want you to practice each method individually at first. Master them by themselves and then begin to mix the methods that you like the most. This will take some more practice, but how fast will you be able to read then? (And this ebook isn’t even finished!)

Ok, the exercises for this method are to find a few texts that you enjoy reading and to focus on minimizing or eliminating your inner voice. Once you are able to read without subvocalizing, your reading speed will no longer be capped in any way. Remember, just practice – and if it seems difficult to you, that is ok. A lifetime habit can be hard to break, but the benefits for speed reading are worth it.