[dvhh]

As mentioned in one of the comment this is linked to a certain methodology of teaching reading.

One where the reader is more focused on the overall shape of the word rather than the individual letters (from memory I think it is the "global reading method"). I think it can have great effect on the speed of reading, but downside effect is less accurate spelling. Also when encountering "Exotic" words reading speed can slow to a crawl as to try to memorize the shape of the word.

I have not found study linking the reading speed and the speed of learning, I would theorize that one has no effect on the other.

But recent technologies like auto-correction and word completion have partially compensated these mistakes and recent trend of journalism to "paraphrasing" news cable somewhat amplified its effect.

[loxias]

Thanks so much for your comment! I learned a thing! I (apparently) read that way (global reading method), I don't know any other way to read, and I wasn't sure it was anything unusual. My parents didn't do anything special, it's just how I read.

I also have atrocious spelling, always have, and can't read things with exotic words. (when reading sci-fi I skip all proper nouns).

This also explains why "bionic" is doing nothing for me -- it's meant to nudge one to where I already am.

[dvhh]

I did some research and Wikipedia pointed to the whole language method (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whole_language) as opposed to the phonics method (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonics) which focus more on how words are composed from syllables.

As a non expert, my analysis would be reduced to :

- whole word would focus of growing the list of words you would be able to recognize. - phonics focus on the link between speaking and reading, which I guess could build up self confidence for being more eloquent, and in my opinion would help with learning foreign languages.