Comment by ErikVandeWater | Hacker News Reader

Comment by ErikVandeWater | Hacker News Reader

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I wonder the quality of learning if you listen to/watch something at 2x speed twice. Bonus if there is a delay in which your mind may formulate questions.

I'm guessing it would be superior unless it was a very high difficulty piece. Having a basic understanding and then formulating questions allows you have an input on the learning, as opposed to simply listening.

I would also say that with some material (esp. fiction), your "comprehension" may go up if you listen to it faster, because you don't give your mind a chance to wonder if something makes sense; I often fall for the trap of asking what I would do in a given situation, and then when the character does something nonsensical, I go looking for a good reason. I lose sight of what the author is trying to say because they made a mistake when trying to forward the plot.

Try this: after listening to a story or to a lecture, retell it to someone else in as much detail as possible. Or try defending lecturer's position or what their information implies. You'll be shocked to discover, you don't know enough details.

You'll have to listen another time, and off goes the profit of x2 speed. But even after listening multiple times, it's still very hard to argue for, or retell in details what's been said. Unless it's a radio show, where information is sparse.

>and off goes the profit of x2 speed

I'm unconvinced. Is it better to listen to something once at 1x speed or twice at 2x speed?

It's better to think about what you have listened to. If 2x lets you do that then you are better of vs 1x. I personally only use 2x when the person is talking very slowly.

I believe the research supports fast reading as being better, because you get more of an overview, but presumably this peaks at some point, same as audio.

If 2x speed lets you listen twice then by all means it is probably better than only listening once. However, the people who think they can get away with listening once at 2x speed without pausing are just passing the time, they aren't learning.

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