Some
time ago, a 62 year old friend of mine mentioned to me that
he had always had trouble reading. He commented that he would
not understand what he read and that he would read it over
and over in an attempt to understand. He considered himself
to be non-intelligent. He said it had really limited him because
he would not take on new challenges—particularly those
that involved reading. This had been going on all his life.
I invited him to come see me to see if I could figure out
what was going on. He agreed and we set up an appointment.
When he came in I found the classic problem that I find with
most students who have trouble reading and understanding.
He was sounding the words out in his head and not creating
any sensory experience of the meaning of the words in his
mind.
I told him about the importance of visualing when learning
and about how the lack of a visual vocabulary would keep him
from doing that when he read. I taught him my "reading
comprehension strategy" and my "vocabulary strategy"
and sent him on his way. We had spent about an hour together.
That appointment was last August, 1999. We had no more contact
on this subject.
In January, I was in a meeting with him and some other friends
of ours. We were all reviewing the past year and sharing the
significant events that had occurred. When his time came he
said, "One of the significant things to happen to me
was that I learned how to learn—with Don’s help.
I now understand how to use my brain to learn and understand.
I know how to read and visualize. I feel empowered to try
more things and take more risks and do things that before
I did not think possible. I don’t feel non-intelligent
anymore! If something is not understandable, I know to stop
and to remember to visualize it and then I will understand
it. It’s a great feeling!"
It’s never too late to learn how to learn or to use
the "Joy" processes.
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