Learning how to read faster is a huge goal for many people. Just think about how much more you could get done if you could read that homework assignment in half the time! Or think about how much more time you could spend with your family if you could read your work reports twice as fast! Or, just think about how many more awesome books you could read if you could tear through them like a hyperactive toddler through a block of Jello. There are many different courses that promise to give you this superhuman ability for the low, low price of $99.99 (or some other amount of money). The question is, how do you make sure you select a course that will meet your needs? You don’t want to throw your hard earned money into a course that isn’t going to help you meet your speed reading goals. There are almost as many different speed reading courses as there are books available to read. That last part might be a slight exaggeration, but it’s still not easy to select one.
Luckily, I’m here to help you make the decision.
First of all, you need to figure out what your goals are before you start looking for a course that will meet them. Do you just want to read really, incredibly fast? Are you looking for help with reading comprehension? Do you only read highly technical scientific papers or steamy romance novels? Do you want an online course or an in-person class? Do you want to work with other people or one-on-one with a reading coach? Why, precisely, do you want to read so flipping fast? Once you have a solid answer to that question, then you can begin doing research into different courses.
A quick Google search will likely give you a long list of possible courses that fit your criteria. I would recommend making a list of approximately ten or so that seem like they might fit your needs. Once you have the names of these various courses, it’s time to do some research! Google each one individually and see if you can find any reviews from people who have taken the course. Chances are you will find some sites that do nothing but host reviews and ratings for various services. See what people are saying about the various courses on your list. That will probably help you narrow it down.
Next, contact each course directly and ask for more information. Tell them you are a prospective client but would like more information. It is probably a good idea to go into these conversations with a list of questions you’d like answered. Also, ask them for the contact information of any former students of the program. A reputable and effective program will be more than willing to put you into contact with a former student. Any course or organization that is unwilling to do that for you should be approached with serious caution.
You could also try contacting local community colleges, libraries, and high schools for information about programs they would recommend. Libraries in particular are usually very knowledgeable in this sort of area.
Finding a course that fits your needs is about first figuring out what your needs are. With clearly defined goals and expectations, the research process for a speed reading course can be much more effective. By doing your research and investigating the methods and reputations of the various speed reading courses you encounter you can ensure your time and money will be well spent. In the end, you will get out of a speed reading course what you put into it. Your effort and commitment will always be the driving factor in any self-improvement endeavor.
