RocketReader

Name:
Free trial software “RocketReader” at http://www.rocketreader.com/

Skill:
This software focuses on increasing reading speed and reading comprehension skills.

Level:
Exercises are divided into two larger proficiency levels available in trial version (simple and advanced English). Each of these provides incrementally more difficult texts to read. Simple English, “level 1”, would be appropriate for Niagara College’s Level 3 reading classes. The advanced level is closer to an academic level of English.

ESL specific?
No, but it would work wonderfully for an ESL Reading class. Many of the exercises are based on traditional speed reading techniques. Speed reading techniques I have read about suggest using some kind of object such as your hand or a playing card to create continuous downward motion and to force your eyes to take in groups of word at a time. What slows reading down is too much concentration on single words. Ours eyes sometimes backtrack to unfamiliar single words. We do this because we are confused at a words meaning but going back and staring at a single word does not give us the meaning in context. Looking at text at the phrasal level does. Constant forward motion and text being revealed a line at a time, forces the reader to group words together, look at entire phrases and glean meaning from “function” rather than “grammar” words. This free trial software uses a scrolling screen that students can manipulate in the same way that you would use a card. It’s a great way to train ESL students to group words in this manner.

It also has exercises that concentrate on grouping by flashing entire groups of words on the screen.

Interactive?
Highly

Why would this be useful?
The reason that this would be useful in an ESL environment is that “speed reading” techniques force students to glean meaning from groups of words in context. This should aid in comprehension, speed and vocabulary development. More importantly though, its free. It could be used in class and once students knew how to use it, a teacher could encourage them to download it for supplementary practice at home.

Another useful thing about it is that it encourages students to keep track of their own progress and motivates them to do so through a videogame like aesthetic. All the graphics are “space themed”. Also, the way in which students manipulate the speed that text comes at them with mouse buttons, makes the control of the reading exercises feel like a videogame. After you are done reading the text and being tested on comprehension you are asked if you want to see your scores. These scores include percentages regarding your success rate on comprehension questions and your words-per-minute. The software remembers each user so you can also have your progress over time, displayed at any time. I think this is a really motivating way to show students what it is they have accomplished and get them wanting to “beat” their own best scores. The site claims that with only “15 minutes of training each day you should see remarkable progress within two weeks” (that is how long the trial version lasts so I would certainly be willing to test that claim).