Speed reading and listening fluency (Sonia Millett)
Speed Readings
Speed Readings are exercises designed to increase the speed of a student's reading. Their purpose is not to increase vocabulary size nor to improve reading comprehension. By testing speed reading in isolation from other learning objectives, students will gain more confidence, enjoyment, and success. Most of the material on this page was developed by Sonia Millett.
- PDF 1.07 MB BNC Speed Readings for ESL Learners (general topics) (500 word level)
- PDF 762.58 KB BNC Speed Readings for ESL Learners (general topics) (3000 word level)
- PDF 752.08 KB BNC Speed Readings for ESL Learners (general topics) (4000 word level)
- PDF 756.91 KB Asian and Pacific Speed Readings for ESL Learners (1000+)
- PDF 997.62 KB New Zealand Speed Readings for ESL Learners (1000+)
- PDF 878.38 KB New Zealand Speed Readings for ESL Learners Book One (2000+ word list)
- PDF 673.83 KB New Zealand Speed Readings for ESL Learners Book Two (2000+ and AWL word lists)
- PDF 858.97 KB Africa Speed Readings for ESL Learners (2000 word level)
A course in speed reading
If a consistent measure of reading speed is needed when reading different texts, then the number of characters (letters, punctuation, spaces) in each text needs to be the same (Carver, 1976; Kramer & McLean, forthcoming).
In this 1000-level speed-reading course, each text is exactly 3000 characters long (500 standard words). To learn more about speed reading, read Nation, I.S.P. (2005) Reading faster. Pasaa 36: 21-37.
Quicklistens
Quicklistens are regular, quick, focused listening exercises. They are based on ongoing audio stories utilising the principles of graded readers: high student interest, repeated exposure to high-frequency vocabulary and grammar, and the principles of fluency development. For more information about Quicklistens, read the introduction to Quicklistens.
- PDF 78.43 KB Introduction to Quicklistens
- PDF 153.77 KB The Coldest Place on Earth (400 head words)
- PDF 175.41 KB The Monkey's Paw (400 head words)
- PDF 215.5 KB The Phantom of the Opera (400 head words)
- PDF 222.67 KB Northanger Abbey (600 head words)
- PDF 230.03 KB Round the World in Eighty Days (600 head words)
- PDF 439.12 KB Henry VIII and his Six Wives (700 head words)
- PDF 419.01 KB Robinson Crusoe (700 head words)
- PDF 197.48 KB The New Yorkers (700 head words)