Limiting under-vocalization

As we have explained in previous presentations, to read a greater number of words using less time it is essential to stop mentally pronouncing everything that is read, since this practice causes us to limit the speed at which our eyes move over the text.

This habit called under-vocalization is difficult to correct completely, but it is possible to modify it if you practice reading daily for more than 20 minutes using some of the techniques that we offer below.

The reader should select the method that is most convenient for him/her and should not be discouraged if he/she notices that his/her comprehension levels are reduced, this is a phenomenon that happens to all students in the first stage, then this ability recovers and becomes much higher than the one he/she had.

Exercises to reduce under-vocalization

Listening to and humming instrumental music:A simple way to try to reduce under-vocalization is to read while listening to instrumental music in the background in a relaxed environment. To do this, the music should not have interruptions produced by the voice of speakers or non-instrumental fragments that interfere with the reader's concentration.

For the practice of listening to instrumental music: Listen to and hum along to instrumental music.

For the practice of this exercise, it is recommended that the reader begin by listening to the instrumental music for a period of time that allows him/her to hum the melody, that is, to sing or imitate the melody without articulating the words well; substituting the sounds for nonsense syllables -such as ta, la, ra- and then begin reading without stopping humming the piece.

Humming or whistling under your breath: This technique consists of whistling or humming under your breath a piece of music while reading, to distract the organs involved in reading, in order to avoid reading word for word the contents of the page.

The song should not be sung verbatim because it would significantly reduce the levels of concentration in reading, negatively influencing the comprehension of the text. Repeating short sentences: This method is based on reading by fr