A method of programming a NAND flash memory device includes: a programming voltage generation circuit applying an initial programming voltage pulse to a predetermined page of NAND flash memory; a controller verifying a plurality of verification levels of the predetermined page, the plurality of verification levels being less than a first-state verification voltage of verifying a lowest program state of the predetermined page; the controller determining a magnitude of a subsequent programming voltage pulse upon one of the plurality of verification levels of the predetermined page passing a verification; and the programming voltage generation circuit applying the subsequent programming voltage pulse to the predetermined page.