<p>Based on general principles of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_of_learning" rel="nofollow">skill transfer</a>:</p>

<ul>
<li>Reading a book aloud should improve your skills in reading books aloud, and in particular it should improve your skill in reading the particular passages that you are reading. So if you are going to be reading a particular text in a public setting, it makes sense to practice reading that passage of text.</li>
<li>Likewise, if you are preparing to give a lecture, then practicing giving the lecture should improve your performance giving that talk.</li>
<li>Reading a book aloud is unlikely to help you in social situations because the dynamics of reading are quite different to the dynamics of social situations. Communication in social situations is interactive with its own specific set of conventions that need to be learnt. In contrast, reading a book aloud is not interactive. The rules that govern reading a book aloud are very different to those that govern social situations.</li>
</ul>

<p>Based on the same principles, if you want to be a better communicator in social situations, your time would probably be better spent (a) studying social interactions, and (b) engaging and reflecting on social interactions.</p>

<p><strong>Update:</strong> @ofri makes a good point. If a bottle neck on your social skills is actually articulating words clearly, then practicing that skill, such as would occur when reading, should be effective. Ofri uses a good example of a second language learner. The case I'm thinking of above is where the person is fully competent in articulating words verbally, and where problems with social skills relate more to knowing what to say when.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-05T05:52:31.773Z
I agree, but would like to add that if you're trying to improve your aptitude in social situations in a language that is not your native, then reading books in that language (aloud or not) is a very effective way.
Ofri Raviv
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-05T04:33:02.467Z
2013-08-05T07:33:15.893Z
2013-08-05T07:33:15.893Z
Jeromy Anglim
<p>Suppose a person reads a book out loud for 1 hour straight. Would this "exercise" the parts of the brain involved in speech? Would this make the person a better communicator in social situations?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-06T19:37:24.517Z
It's reported to - it forms the central philosophy of the Social Anxiety Institute
Timo
<neuroscience><social-psychology><communication>
Does reading a book out loud make you better in social situations?
realbradrsd
# Does reading a book out loud make you better in social situations?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-08-05)

Suppose a person reads a book out loud for 1 hour straight. Would this "exercise" the parts of the brain involved in speech? Would this make the person a better communicator in social situations?

**Tags:** neuroscience, social-psychology, communication

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It's reported to - it forms the central philosophy of the Social Anxiety Institute  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2013-08-05. Score: 6

Based on general principles of [skill transfer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_of_learning):

* Reading a book aloud should improve your skills in reading books aloud, and in particular it should improve your skill in reading the particular passages that you are reading. So if you are going to be reading a particular text in a public setting, it makes sense to practice reading that passage of text.
* Likewise, if you are preparing to give a lecture, then practicing giving the lecture should improve your performance giving that talk.
* Reading a book aloud is unlikely to help you in social situations because the dynamics of reading are quite different to the dynamics of social situations. Communication in social situations is interactive with its own specific set of conventions that need to be learnt. In contrast, reading a book aloud is not interactive. The rules that govern reading a book aloud are very different to those that govern social situations.

Based on the same principles, if you want to be a better communicator in social situations, your time would probably be better spent (a) studying social interactions, and (b) engaging and reflecting on social interactions.

**Update:** @ofri makes a good point. If a bottle neck on your social skills is actually articulating words clearly, then practicing that skill, such as would occur when reading, should be effective. Ofri uses a good example of a second language learner. The case I'm thinking of above is where the person is fully competent in articulating words verbally, and where problems with social skills relate more to knowing what to say when.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: I agree, but would like to add that if you're trying to improve your aptitude in social situations in a language that is not your native, then reading books in that language (aloud or not) is a very effective way.  

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