Use of Audio-Visual Aids in Speed Reading
It is a new trend to use technology such as videos, televisions and language laboratories in learning how to improve reading skills. By audio-visual aids we mean the devices that can be used in teaching for their appeal to the ear and the eye. Visual aids are divided in two categories; simple visual aids and advanced visual aids. Blackboard, bulletin board, flannel board, charts, diagrams, graphs, cartoons, posters, maps, pictures, wall pictures, globes and models are simple visual aids which can help in learning how to speed read. On the other hand epidiascope, television and filmstrips are the advanced visual aids used to train students how to speed read. These helpful means provide good support to the students in the start of their learning reading because he or she can learn from the situations. He learns the pronunciation of the words along with the correct meanings of the word. Sometimes a word shows different meanings in different situations that can only be cleared by creating dummy situations.
These audio-visual aids can serve a variety of purposes. The pace of learning can be increased or decreased with the help of these aids according to the reader’s capability. Intelligent readers cover their exercise and lesson speedily as compare to the poor readers and listeners while learning how to speed read. For example
1. They can be used to create situations to make the meaning of a word or a structure clear, and to practice them in meaningful situations. In some cases situations contrived with the help of teaching aids would be found more advantageous than actual physical situations in learning how to read.
2. Visual aids can dispel the monotony of practice work by creating variety. They can introduce a play element in serious work and make lessons lively. Even the introduction of a ready-made substitution table at the right moment in a grammar lesson can enliven the class. Display of various charts, tables, pictures, models, etc on classroom walls will lend an atmosphere of gaiety to the room and at the same time help the pupils to learn a troublesome item. Such visual aids can be systematically put up to focus attention on a particular item and changed periodically to present other items.
3. The use of aids to teach word meanings is obvious. The meanings of some words can be taught only with the help of visual aids. This should be apparent from the extensive use of sketches in dictionaries.
4. Audio aids like the radio and the teacher to improve his own command of the language can use the tape recorder; and where practicable, they can also be used English language. Commercial cassettes and discs are available in the market on almost all the aspects of fast reading and learning how to speed read.
5. For mastery of fast reading a language and understanding of the culture of the native speakers of the languages is essential. Pictures and films on the daily life and the different facets of the socio-cultural life of the English people will help the pupils to develop such an understanding. This will in turn develop in the pupils a favorable attitude to the language in learning how to speed read. The teacher should encourage the pupils to decorate their classroom with such pictures.