I can't absorb what I read!!!

[Silentlyfor]

I don't know what's going on lately. I'm an English student at University and I have the most quintessentially difficult problem to face right now. When I read, I seem to suddenly forget the words I'm in front of me AS I'M READING THEM.

 

This is something that happens on and off and I can't seem to have consistent reading ability. It's like I have a mental block or something. What's this mean to everybody? I mean, I'm wondering if there's a way I can solve this problem somehow.

[Lana0120]

Is this just when you're reading your course material or when you read generally? If it's the former, it sounds like the material just isn't interesting to you and your attention is wandering. You're worrying about it and that's making the problem even worse. I think it's a sign you need to incorporate other things into your learning... do reading, but break it up more with answering questions, researching answers to things online, anything. Also, if if you're spending ages trying and you're finding that you're having problems, take more breaks. Also, look up natural remedies and vitamins that are good for concentration. That might help you out.

[karvala]

Oh I've always had that, by and large. I'll read an article, 15 mins later someone will ask me what it's about, and I won't be able to tell them. I joke that I'm pre-senile. The truth is, though, that if something fits well into your existing knowledge, and doesn't really tell you anything significantly new, you'll simply absorb it, assimilate the main message, and drop the details. For literature, unfortunately, it can work similarly, if there is nothing particularly striking or original about it. I don't think it's anything to worry about, and you'll often find you can recall the details when you really need to (such as in an exam, or another situation where they become relevant so you have a way into them), but if you're really determined to learn them at the time, make notes, or discuss with yourself (out loud preferably), while you're reading.

[winchester3]

I'm the same way with reading and movies. I just don't read. All through high school I've taken the harder English classes and passed them all with a 75 - low 80 with out reading the books fully. Or just reading bits & parts. My advice is to write down the important parts after reading each page, or every 5 pages. You could try just skimming over the book picking out whats important and leaving the rest, it really depends if your reading for content, information or the story. Something like that may help.

[jengh]

i have this problem too. I can't figure out what my deal is. I LOVE to read but it just goes in one ear and out the other. When I read novels, i literally rush through it so i dont forget whats happened

[Silentlyfor]

Well, as somebody stated above, it may have to do with the intensity, or lack thereof, of my interest in the material itself. Come to think of it, that is often the case with some of novels/short stories I've been reading. My mind does tend to wander or unconsciously I speed up my "reading" to find the good/exciting parts of a book, if there are any such things within the pages that I read.

 

THEN, I have to go back and read what I missed and then my disinterest gets a hold of me again and it becomes sort of a messy cycle. I've tried some coffee intake... but... burning out from a coffee high feels so bad.

 

Right now I'm reading Vineland by Thomas Pychon. It's starting to become interesting but it's turning out to be a bit of a heavy read. The vernacular and some of the events leave me confused or bored.

[Edison]

I bet your mind is racing. There is only so much that you can keep in your head at once. You are thinking about a bunch of other things.

 

Write them down. It does help get them out of your head. Do it now, dont just think about doing it. You are thinking about enough already.

[Zona76]

Me too most of the time. Especially when I'm reading something quite boring. My mind seems to wander.

But not if I am interested and deeply engrossed with the subject matter.

[ghost69]

uninterested. happened to me in school all the time.

[Raiden]

uninterested. happened to me in school all the time.

 

+1

 

redmage22, it means you're bored with what you've been given to read. Unfortunately I'm not sure there's a lot you can do about it, besides grind your way through it.