Maria Teresa Calderon: Undisputed Fastest Reader in the World
By Sol Cali
FORMER Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos was reported to read 8,000 words per minute (wpm), former U.S. Presidents John F. Kennedy, 6,000 wpm, and Theodore Roosevelt can glance at a page and repeat the contents verbatim.
An average college student from top colleges and universities in the country can read from 200-300 wpm with 60% to 70%+ comprehension. Educators call those who can read over 20,000 wpm with more than 75% comprehension, gifted people. Yet in July 1968, a teen-age Filipina at the Northwestern University (Chicago, Illinois) was recorded to read at 50,000 wpm with 100% comprehension. She was Maria Theresa Fabros Calderon, who was a participant in the university’s Rapid Reading Program.
It appeared that some doubtful experts in that part of the world did not accept the result hook, line, and sinker. Thus, reading experts from the Northwestern University, Purdue University, University of Minnesota and University of Illinois conducted a reading test later. The result, Calderon established a world record that has not been matched or surpassed even today - after a period of 46 years: 80,000 wpm with 100% comprehension.
As a result, Calderon’s extraordinary achievement was featured in the Encyclopedia Britannica, Guinness Records, and a significant number of newspapers, education journals and research studies around the globe. She later admitted that her reading prowess was a ‘gift.’
Today, Dr. Maria Teresa F. Calderon heads the University of Arellano School of Graduate Education (UASGE) in Manila.
Dr. Calderon who was a product of U.P. Diliman - from baccalaureate to doctorate level - says that the development of reading skill should not stop in elementary, but should consistently continue up to college. Fact is, her reading intervention program for nursing students at UASGE has, to a great extent improved the reading skills of the students. Those who read faster and better have a higher chance of passing any examination, even the most challenging board exams.
Will it take another 46 years before another ‘Maria Teresa Calderon’ is produced? Your guess is as good as mine.
By Sol Cali
FORMER Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos was reported to read 8,000 words per minute (wpm), former U.S. Presidents John F. Kennedy, 6,000 wpm, and Theodore Roosevelt can glance at a page and repeat the contents verbatim.
An average college student from top colleges and universities in the country can read from 200-300 wpm with 60% to 70%+ comprehension. Educators call those who can read over 20,000 wpm with more than 75% comprehension, gifted people. Yet in July 1968, a teen-age Filipina at the Northwestern University (Chicago, Illinois) was recorded to read at 50,000 wpm with 100% comprehension. She was Maria Theresa Fabros Calderon, who was a participant in the university’s Rapid Reading Program.
It appeared that some doubtful experts in that part of the world did not accept the result hook, line, and sinker. Thus, reading experts from the Northwestern University, Purdue University, University of Minnesota and University of Illinois conducted a reading test later. The result, Calderon established a world record that has not been matched or surpassed even today - after a period of 46 years: 80,000 wpm with 100% comprehension.
As a result, Calderon’s extraordinary achievement was featured in the Encyclopedia Britannica, Guinness Records, and a significant number of newspapers, education journals and research studies around the globe. She later admitted that her reading prowess was a ‘gift.’
Today, Dr. Maria Teresa F. Calderon heads the University of Arellano School of Graduate Education (UASGE) in Manila.
Dr. Calderon who was a product of U.P. Diliman - from baccalaureate to doctorate level - says that the development of reading skill should not stop in elementary, but should consistently continue up to college. Fact is, her reading intervention program for nursing students at UASGE has, to a great extent improved the reading skills of the students. Those who read faster and better have a higher chance of passing any examination, even the most challenging board exams.
Will it take another 46 years before another ‘Maria Teresa Calderon’ is produced? Your guess is as good as mine.