> freebichbaby. 'A Fantastic & Simple Way to Increase Reading Speed & Fluency, without Learning More Words!' R/LearnJapanese, 16 Feb. 2019, <www.reddit.com/r/LearnJapanese/comments/arefq5/a_fantastic_simple_way_to_increase_reading_speed/>. # Repeated reading increases reading speed and fluency ^0cf997 1. Pick a book or story that is around your level, and mark off a section to read that is 5~10 sentences long; 2. Turn on a stopwatch and start reading. **Do not rush.** Read as gradually as you need to comprehend as much as you can given what you currently know. Do not worry about words you do not know. Remember to chunk. 3. Once you have reached the end of the text sample, record your time. 4. Take a few breaths, with your focus off the text. Then read it again from the beginning, logging your times again. Read without _forcing_ speed, but definitely allow your pace to speed up if it feels comfortable. 5. Take a short break, then repeat the whole process with another sample of text of similar length. As for whether to read out loud or in your head, I practice both ways, with a ratio of about 3:1, out loud:in my head. I make a note of which way I'm practicing next to each set of times. Also, "out loud" is usually more like a quiet, near-whisper for me, not full volume. I preserve energy that way, while still practicing the mouth movements and 発音. Another option is to have sessions every once in a while where you record yourself for a set or two. Then you can listen to your increase in improvement, making for even more confidence and reinforcement. **Expected results:** - Your speed will naturally increase with each repetition of the same sample text - Comprehension will feel smoother with each repetition **Unexpected results:** - The speed increases you achieve between reps of each given sample will, little by little, _transfer to your overall reading speed!_ And that overall increase in reading speed will occur significantly more rapidly than it would have _if you were just reading different texts once each_, as is typically recommended. - Your brain will naturally become more oriented towards _extracting meaning_ from Japanese texts, versus "figuring out" texts, making for more fluid, native-like reading. - Confidence in your reading ability will improve. You will approach texts with less apprehension, even if there are words you do not know. - Unknown words will become easier to skip over without interrupting flow of comprehension by ruminating on them like learners tend to. ## 🔍 See also - [[@veritasiumThingsItTakes2022|Deliberate practice]]