[NFB-Braille-Discussion] Reading Speed Increases

Wed Mar 15 19:06:06 UTC 2023

Practice really is key. I used to tell my students. Sighted people see print everywhere. It is literally on everything. You have to read braille every day. Some people tell me that's hard to do, but that really is what it takes. I never understood how kids took braille class for one day a week. I was lucky that everything in school was in braille. For me to get faster, I had to read everything in braille. Of course, now, I am 110 years old, so I don't know that kids get everything in braille these days. It's sad how much focus is on audio. Some of us don't comprehend as well on audio. Ok, I'm not quite 110, lol.

Warm regards,
Sahar Husseini
Sahar’s Beaded Creations
For hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind jewelry, please visit my Website at 
www.saharscreations.com 
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And remember, “Obstacles don't have to stop you.  If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up.
Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."
Michael Jordan

-----Original Message-----
From: NFB-Braille-Discussion <nfb-braille-discussion-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of David Andrews via NFB-Braille-Discussion
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2023 1:26 PM
To: 'NFB Braille Discussion List' <nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org>
Cc: dandrews920 at comcast.net
Subject: Re: [NFB-Braille-Discussion] Reading Speed Increases

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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>
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