[NFB-Braille-Discussion] Reading Speed Increases

Wed Mar 15 18:25:53 UTC 2023

I am not an expert in Braille learning -- however, I remember some articles in the Braille Monitor in the 90's about adults learning Braille and increasing their speed.  I think the recommendations are generally that you need to read each and every day, for an hour if possible. I remember one person saying it took them two years to build up their speed.  

I am not trying to discourage you, but if you go weeks or months without reading Braille, you won't get faster.

Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: NFB-Braille-Discussion <nfb-braille-discussion-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Sanho Steele-Louchart via NFB-Braille-Discussion
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2023 10:56 AM
To: NFB Braille Discussion List <nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Sanho Steele-Louchart <sanho817 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFB-Braille-Discussion] Reading Speed Increases

Right now, approximately zero minutes a day on average. I have weeks where I read 10 pages a day and months where I don't touch braille at all. I definitely need to build consistency there. I'm currently reading at about 60WPM. Enough to enjoy and understand what I'm reading, but nowhere near what I read when I was sighted.

On 3/15/23, marianne denning via NFB-Braille-Discussion <nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Do you know anyone who can watch you as you read and make suggestions? 
> Many people have increased reading speed. How much time do you spend 
> reading each day?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFB-Braille-Discussion 
> <nfb-braille-discussion-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Sanho 
> Steele-Louchart via NFB-Braille-Discussion
> Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2023 11:13 AM
> To: NFB Braille Discussion List <nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Sanho Steele-Louchart <sanho817 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NFB-Braille-Discussion] Reading Speed Increases
>
> Mike,
>
> Thanks. I'm compiling the list now in text and braille for people to 
> use as they wish.
>
> To clarify, I'm not looking for techniques. I'm looking for how long 
> it takes to increase speed and by what amount we can do so.
>
> Warmth,
> Sanho
>
> On 3/15/23, Mike Jolls via NFB-Braille-Discussion 
> <nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> I have been working on increasing Braille reading speed as well … 
>> here are my tips
>>
>> Don’t scrub
>> Light touch
>> Read things that don’t have words that are too difficult at first All 
>> fingers on the Braille as you read.
>> Both hands start the line and move together across the line  –  but 
>> right eventually separates from left and finishes while left goes to 
>> next line ready to read (this means there’s no time lost between 
>> right hand finishing and next line starting to be read)
>>
>> Hmmm … practicing the frequently read words … I’d be interested in 
>> getting a list of those myself.
>>
>> Another tip, make sure you practice reading every day.
>>
>> And here are a couple of more things (if you’re reading on a braille 
>> display with a screen reader such as Jaws) Put the braille display in 
>> “auto advance” mode and read a document.  The screen reader will 
>> automatically advance to the next line and refresh the display with 
>> the next line of text.  This will force you to keep up.
>> You may need to set the auto advance speed so it’s slow enough at 
>> first so you can keep up with it.  Then as you get better, set it a 
>> bit faster.  It’s like taking a shorthand class where the teacher 
>> keeps making you go faster.
>> You do get faster as time goes on.  I’m still working on this.
>>
>> Second tip for the braille display.  In your screen reader software, 
>> set the left and right panning buttons so that forward panning is the 
>> LEFT button, not the right button.  By default (at least in Jaws), 
>> Jaws has assigned the forward pan function to the right panning 
>> button on the display.  But this means that you have to move your 
>> hand to the right side of the display in order to pan.  And when 
>> you’re on a short line, it takes a second or two to do that.  Result 
>> is that you lose a couple of seconds every time you have to move your 
>> hand to the right side of the display.  By switching the forward pan 
>> function to the left button, you don’t have to move your right hand 
>> to the end of the display to press the pan forward button.  Your left 
>> hand is always there on the left button, so it takes less time to pan 
>> forward.  This will save a little time (every bit helps) but the 
>> majority of your time savings will be in the tips before this one.  
>> This one will take a bit of getting used to, but I have it from 
>> another blind user that this is the way to go.  Saving the second or 
>> two on each line seems to make sense, so give it a try.
>>
>> Hope I’ve explained this adequately and good luck.
>>
>> Incidentally, for those in the NFB group, any comments are welcome 
>> regarding what I’ve said.
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for 
>> Windows
>>
>> From: Sanho Steele-Louchart via
>> NFB-Braille-Discussion<mailto:nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2023 8:15 AM
>> To: NFB Braille Discussion
>> List<mailto:nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Sanho Steele-Louchart<mailto:sanho817 at gmail.com>
>> Subject: [NFB-Braille-Discussion] Reading Speed Increases
>>
>> Hi, all,
>>
>> Is there any kind of a science to when and by how much significant 
>> reading gains will happen? I'm currently reading braille at about a 
>> fifth the speed I want to. I'll practice as much as I need to.
>>
>> Warmth,
>> Sanho
>> --
>> He/Him
>>
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>
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