Speed reading and listening fluency (Sonia Millett)

Download speed reading courses and listening exercises for improving reading speed and listening fluency.

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.

• pdf1.1MBBNC Speed Readings for ESL Learners (general topics) (500 word level)
• pdf762.6KBBNC Speed Readings for ESL Learners (general topics) (3000 word level)
• pdf752.1KBBNC Speed Readings for ESL Learners (general topics) (4000 word level)
• pdf756.9KBAsian and Pacific Speed Readings for ESL Learners (1000+)
• pdf997.6KBNew Zealand Speed Readings for ESL Learners (1000+)
• pdf878.4KBNew Zealand Speed Readings for ESL Learners Book One (2000+ word list)
• pdf673.8KBNew Zealand Speed Readings for ESL Learners Book Two (2000+ and AWL word lists)
• pdf859.0KBAfrica 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.

• pdf11.4KBIntroduction to Quicklistens
• pdf153.8KBThe Coldest Place on Earth (400 head words)
• pdf175.4KBThe Monkey's Paw (400 head words)
• pdf215.5KBThe Phantom of the Opera (400 head words)
• pdf222.7KBNorthanger Abbey (600 head words)
• pdf230.0KBRound the World in Eighty Days (600 head words)
• pdf439.1KBHenry VIII and his Six Wives (700 head words)
• pdf419.0KBRobinson Crusoe (700 head words)
• pdf197.5KBThe New Yorkers (700 head words)