StenoDrills.com
all drills are MP3 files on CDs

Questions to Stan OGreph

Some questions have been shortened. You guys write long letters. We included as much as we could.

A friend of mine is stuck at 190 wpm and cannot increase speed. Why is it that some people can write 150 wpm and others can write 250wpm? What is the ingredient that is most probable? I have several finger stroking problems as follows: Help!

- right hand combination keys G & T - missing the T (it's hard for me to get my little finger over there)
- right hand combination keys P & B (I'm missing the B - especially
when I'm trying to type PBL or PBT)
- left hand combination keys T & O (I'm missing the O)
- left hand combination keys T, H & A (I'm missing the A)

I'm also having problems with the small words (conjunctions; i.e. with, what, that, this, when, etc.) all on the left hand. I've made some of my own practice dictation tapes working on all these conjunctions and have seen some improvement. But, when I'm striving for speed at 200 or more wpm, I'm missing the small words. Help!
Hi. I was wondering if you had any practicing advice. I have recently moved and am not near a school, and am trying for 225. I usually practice at slow speed, and then fast, and then the speed I'm trying for. But seems am just stuck. Am not up to speed. I hesitate and my outlines are not very accurate. I always misstroke a and type a t instead, even though I've tried to break myself of that. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Thank you for this site.
I have a problem with test anxiety, which makes me hesitate, which makes me lose concentration, which kills my speed and my confidence...PLEASE HELP! Thank you!
My problems: I lose focus in the midst of our wonderful five-minute takes. I write "anticipated" words which for the majority of the time are NOT dictated - are to read my notes. I have problems with writing combinations like: that and they - THA and THAEU and to and do - TO and DO. Meaning these words follow one another in dictated sentences. It seems when I want to write the word "the," I stroke EUT - I the. I haven't passed a test in over six months. I have a new practice schedule which is helping to reinforce my
theory - mainly numbers and suffix problems. I hesitate and carry. Please share ANYTHING that will help me. Thanks, Denita
JC - 160
Q&A - 160
Lit - 180
Hello,
I have an Associates Degree in Court and Freelance Reporting from Ferris State University graduated in 1990.   I got my State Certification in Michigan on my first attempt and became a Freelance Court Reporter for about 1 year.  However, due to lack of funds, being only 20, and having my first child I have not TOUCHED my machine since.  I really regret this decision and am wanting to know what my options are for getting started again.

Yesterday, I spoke with a Lansing Community College Court Reporting Instructor ..She thought it was a great idea for me to get started again.  She said I just have to "get my speed up".

What do you think about this?  I really am nervous and don't want to get started into this too quickly and work on speed before I'm ready with the basics again?  Or do you feel literally have to start all over from scratch?  As in, basic strokes, etc.

Any advice or encouragement would be great.  I am not interested in taking a full college course again with all of the medical terminology and legal procedures courses...again, I already have a degree in court reporting and have been a legal secretary for a long time.  I am open to learning about the new technology that has come about regarding real time reporting, etc. but I would imagine I will learn that from the Instructor at Lansing Comm. College during my time there.

So...I know this is a lot but please steer me in the right direction.  She also mentioned an on-line class out of St. Louis that was very good.  She said this is the only one she would recommend.  Normally I would steer away from "learn at home" programs...but seeing as how I have my degree...just need to get speed back, what do ya think?  Do you have anything that could help me? Thanks for listening...looking forward to hearing back.
I was wondering if you could possibly steer me in the right direction. I am currently a medical transcription student and I have heard that many court reporters hire transcriptionists to transcribe tapes, and this can apparently be done at home just as medical transcription. I don't know >where to even begin. I have no court reporting experience, and I use a computer. Would you give me some direction as to what my options might be. I am in a place where I am unable to attend school other than just a few hours a day. Thank you for your time.
Hi Stan,
Thank you so much for your reply. Your candid comments regarding the the lack of well taught programs helped me put a lot of my concerns into a more realistic perspective. If you would be so kind, I have a few more questions I need your thoughts on.
The only school out here teaching Phoenix Theory is in XXXXXX, (approx . 3 hours away). I would need to move there to attend . . . . Is the program that much better, that I should consider this option?

The director of XXXXXXXXXX tells me school is no less than 4 years full time and won't budge, even when I tell her I will devote all my time to school and home practice. I was setting 2 years as my goal to complete school.

If I decide to attend XXXXXXXXX, could I pay you to outline the "missing information" from the program you referred to?

I'm also considering a school with a Certificate program in C.A.R.T., working with the hearing impaired (not qualified for realtime captioning) Do you have any thoughts on this career option? I look forward to your reply.

Thank you again Stan!

A friend of mine is stuck at 190 wpm and cannot increase speed. Why is it
that some people can write 150 wpm and others can write 250wpm? What is the
ingredient that is most probable?

Hesitation.  Both people can probably write a 30-second drill at a comparable level if they have received the same training.

Barb is going to be exploring the subject of why you should drill below your goal speed for most of your drill.  She wants you to drill at your comfort level for the majority of your drill.  Several times (I'm guessing) during a drill session, she will want you to write as fast as you can.  But you must be able to continue to write quality strokes at the comfort level.

I saw a rough draft of her article.  I like how she talks about the "comfort level."

Personally, the fastest writers in our school are stuck in their 200s.  There have been many people who have passed them and gone on to graduate, but these extremely fast writers have spent all of their energy on speed.  They hesitate, they break down as far as clarity, they accept junky strokes.

They are the fastest.  They just can't write for five minutes in a row.  It breaks your heart to look at them.  They have such great abilities and they don't understand that there is more to it than just speed.

Stan
Back to Top

I have several finger stroking problems as follows: Help!

- right hand combination keys G & T - missing the T (it's hard for me
to get my little finger over there)
- right hand combination keys P & B (I'm missing the B - especially
when I'm trying to type PBL or PBT)
- left hand combination keys T & O (I'm missing the O)
- left hand combination keys T, H & A (I'm missing the A)

I'm also having problems with the small words (conjunctions; i.e. with,
what, that, this, when, etc.) all on the left hand. I've made some of my
own practice dictation tapes working on all these conjunctions and have seen
some improvement. But, when I'm striving for speed at 200 or more wpm, I'm
missing the small words. Help!

Thanks.

Normally, I would tell you that you are talking about two problems. The first concerns the little finger. It takes longer to get it into position and often requires a little more motion by the hand to do so. There is an article named "The Right-Hand Letters D and Z" that can be found on CourtReportingHelp.com. It explains the finger mechanics of that problem finger.

The second problem you bring up involves those words and strokes that we know by heart. They are easy strokes and yet they cause problems. I'll bet that you often stroke very difficult words correctly at the same time that those easy words are coming out inaccurate.

This time I will lump them together because you also say that you see improvement except when you write at top speed. There is the rub. When you write at top speed, these problems surface no matter what you do.

The problem with the final T will remain until you agree that writing at top speed does not mean writing all strokes at the same top speed. A stroke with the right-hand GT is always going to be a little slower than other strokes. It doesn't have to be much slower, but it will probably feel much slower at first. As you get used to always hitting that stroke correctly, you will see an improvement in speed, but that stroke will always be a little slow.

The problem with the common ordinary briefs is a result of your brain not paying any attention to those strokes because it knows that it has mastered them. Your brain works much quicker than your hands. Even at top speed, keep your brain focused on these strokes for just a nanosecond more than you are presently doing. These are easy strokes. You already perform them faster than most strokes. They aren't slowing you down. They won't slow you down if you concentrate on them for just a split second longer. Remember: Your brain works faster than your hands. Make sure those easy words get enough attention to properly stroke them. It won't cost you speed.

You also mentioned right-hand PBL. This could also be because you have mastered this stroke a long time ago. Does it seem to be an easy stroke like the others that you mentioned? If so, you may be ignoring this stroke in the same way that you are ignoring other easy strokes.

I have another theory for the PBL problem.

I find it extremely easy to write words like "funnel." I write FUNL, which is actually TPUPBL. Other words, such as "capable" are a little harder even though I still write the PBL stroke. The difference is my brain thinks of "funnel" as an NL stroke, but it thinks of "capable" as a PBL stroke. It may be just as easy on the fingers, but it is harder for my mind to send the proper signals. Even though I have a brief for "capable" and even though I have used this brief forever, I'll bet that I can write "funnel" much faster and with less hesitation.

Your questions were excellent. Please write again.

Stan

Back to Top

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------

Hi. I was wondering if you had any practicing advice. I have recently moved and am not near a school, and am trying for 225. I usually practice at slow speed, and then fast, and then the speed I'm trying for. But seems am just stuck. Am not up to speed. I hesitate and my outlines are not very accurate. I always misstroke a and type a t instead, even though I've tried to break myself of that. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Last week's short newsletter was written by Steve. He says that you must have accuracy first. When you have that, then you work on hesitation. When you have both accuracy and no hesitation, then you can work on speed.

Stan

Back to Top

Thank you for this site.

I have a problem with test anxiety, which makes me hesitate, which makes me
lose concentration, which kills my speed and my confidence...PLEASE HELP!
Thank you!

This is a tough problem. You have to remember that it is all in your head. You do have the skills. You do have the speed. You have worked long and hard to get to where you are. And yet, your nerves are sabotaging you.

There are many methods to keep yourself calm and collected. prefer visualization. Close your eyes. Imagine that you are in the middle of a test. Imagine that a hard stroke comes up. Normally, this is where your nerves start to appear.

Feel those nerves as they start to take over. But don't let them. Imagine that you still have the nerves, but now they are not in control. You are.

You continue to stroke. The nerves may rise or fall, but you continue to stroke. You are in command.

Work on different scenarios. Imagine a test that starts horribly. Imagine the nerves rearing up right away. Imagine that you pay no attention. You stay in control.

Imagine the end of the test. You know you will pass if you don't drop any more than words. Imagine two hard words in a row. If you hesitate, it is all over. Imagine the nerves screaming in your ears. Imagine that you stay under control. You get those words. You get that test.

Ballplayers, public speakers, politicians, singers, and many more professionals depend on hypnosis to conquer their fears. The technique that I just gave you is the favorite technique of those $200-an-hour hypnotherapists. It really works.

Back to Top

My problems: I lose focus in the midst of our wonderful five-minute takes. I
write "anticipated" words which for the majority of the time are NOT
dictated - are to read my notes. I have problems with writing combinations
like: that and they - THA and THAEU and to and do - TO and DO. Meaning these
words follow one another in dictated sentences. It seems when I want to
write the word "the," I stroke EUT - I the. I haven't passed a test in over
six months. I have a new practice schedule which is helping to reinforce my
theory - mainly numbers and suffix problems. I hesitate and carry. Please
share ANYTHING that will help me. Thanks.

JC - 160
Q&A - 160
Lit - 180

You really aren't falling behind until you hesitate, if I am reading between the lines correctly. You are on top of the dictation. Heck, you are so much on top of the dictation that you are trying to write before the teacher says the words.

This isn't that uncommon a problem. Most people think that they still need more speed when they have this problem. It's great that you have a handle on what is happening.

You do have to attack the problem. It's your brain. It's not your hands. The more you falter, the more you resolve to stay up at all costs. The closer you get to the speaker, the more you write the "anticipated" strokes. And then you falter again.

You don't mention how many words you normally "carry." Everybody has to carry a few. After all, you can't stroke the word until you hear and understand it. With a good writer, (you appear to be one) carrying five words is not a killer at your speed. Carrying eight is bad news. Carrying two may induce the problem that you have.

Also you don't specifically mention writing bad when you are carrying extra words. I'm not talking about how you write after you have fractured your writing, but when you are writing well and are forced to carry, do you still throw in these extra strokes that you are talking about? I'm betting that you don't.

I'm not sure that I have a clear enough idea of your writing, but my advice right now is to carry three to five words at all times. Don't try to carry less. Don't accept more. This may keep you close enough to stop your brain from being overloaded by carrying and keep you far enough from the speaker that you don't hesitate or add words.

Write back with more.

Stan

Back to Top

Hello,

I have an Associates Degree in Court and Freelance Reporting from Ferris
State University graduated in 1990.   I got my State Certification in Michigan on my first
attempt and became a Freelance Court Reporter for about 1 year.  However,
due to lack of funds, being only 20, and having my first child I have not TOUCHED my machine since.

I really regret this decision and am wanting to know what my options are for
getting started again.

Yesterday, I spoke with a Lansing Community College Court Reporting
Instructor ..She thought it was a great idea for me to get started again.
She said I just have to "get my speed up".

What do you think about this?  I really am nervous and don't want to get started into this too quickly and
work on speed before I'm ready with the basics again?  Or do you feel I
literally have to start all over from scratch?  As in, basic strokes, etc.

Any advice or encouragement would be great.  I am not interested in taking a
full college course again with all of the medical terminology and legal
procedures courses...again, I already have a degree in court reporting and
have been a legal secretary for a long time.  I am open to learning about
the new technology that has come about regarding real time reporting, etc.
but I would imagine I will learn that from the Instructor at Lansing Comm.
College during my time there.

So...I know this is a lot but please steer me in the right direction.  She
also mentioned an on-line class out of St. Louis that was very good.  She
said this is the only one she would recommend.  Normally I would steer away
from "learn at home" programs...but seeing as how I have my degree...just
need to get speed back, what do ya think?  Do you have anything that could
help me?

Thanks for listening...looking forward to hearing back.

Wow!! You said a bunch. Let me just make a few comments. You had the skills back then; you can get them back just as the Lansing teacher said.

The St. Louis school is a good one. So is Brown Community College in Atlanta. I believe I have the correct name.

You do need to get a machine. All stenographers need a computer machine and computer program.

There are two CAT programs that are free to students. I don't know that you will be able to use either unless you are enrolled somewhere. One is GlobalCAT and the other is DigitalCAT. Go to CourtReportingHelp.com and click on "The Dogs of Words" on the top of the page. Check out Question 14. It has links to these programs.

We have drills and low-cost programs. We even have a free program. It works well. It was our first, and it is our most famous. Download them all. You get 21 days to try out each of the programs. Naturally, the free one doesn't have a time limit.

Get on our newsletter list. Once a week, we have an essay about court reporting. They have been very well received by the students.

Visit Phoenixtheory.com for good tips and advice. Ask questions. These people are good.

Go to MachineShorthand.com and ask questions on their message board. It is hard to find, but it is good. The owners of the site monitor it daily.

Go to NCRAonline.com and sign up for a virtual mentor. You will be assigned a reporter, teacher, or firm owner who wants to help.

Write back again.

Stan

I was wondering if you could possibly steer me in the right direction. I am currently a medical transcription student and I have heard that many court reporters hire transcriptionists to transcribe tapes, and this can apparently be done at home just as medical transcription. I don't know >where to even begin. I have no court reporting experience, and I use a computer. Would you give me some direction as to what my options might be. I am in a place where I am unable to attend school other than just a few hours a day. Thank you for your time.

This area is not my bailiwick. Instead, let's get your question out on the Internet and let the real experts give you advice. Take your original E-mail to us and post it on the message board of CourtReportingHelp.com. When you get an answer, you will be automatically notified by mail. Also, post it to the message board at MachineShorthand.com. Their address is www.machineshorthand.com. This site is a great site. They have a good message board, and the webmaster is very very helpful. This is a really good site. Also, you may want to send the webmaster your question. This site deserves its fine reputation for helping students. Stan

Hi Stan,

Thank you so much for your reply. Your candid comments regarding the the lack of well taught programs helped me put a lot of my concerns into a more realistic perspective. If you would be so kind, I have a few more questions I need your thoughts on.

The only school out here teaching Phoenix Theory is in XXXXXX, (approx . 3 hours away). I would need to move there to attend . . . . Is the program that much better, that I should consider this option?

The director of XXXXXXXXXX tells me school is no less than 4 years full time and won't budge, even when I tell her I will devote all my time to school and home practice. I was setting 2 years as my goal to complete school.

If I decide to attend XXXXXXXXX, could I pay you to outline the "missing information" from the program you referred to?

I'm also considering a school with a Certificate program in C.A.R.T., working with the hearing impaired (not qualified for realtime captioning) Do you have any thoughts on this career option? I look forward to your reply.

Thank you again Stan!

`Theories of court reporting do not refer to actual theories. It would be better if they called them "languages." Each theory translates the spoken word into a pattern of letters, and then these letters are retranslated back into English to create a transcript. This is similar to translating the spoken word into French or Italian and then back to English.`

The Phoenix Theory way of stroking is fine, as far as we are concerned. It is solid, well-written and understandable. Most theories are solid and well-written, but few of them are understandable as to why they write their outlines as they do. Since the student will have to write outlines for all the words in the dictionary (and more), we feel that it is important that the student understands how and why certain stroking patterns are used. After all, no one is able to memorize every possible stroking combination; therefore, it is important to understand how to create reasonably competent strokes for words that are not memorized.

`What we really like about Phoenix Theory is that they explain how to perform the finger movements. They understand the theory behind the technical movements and how the brain interacts with the fingers. Their advice and suggestions on how to write can be applied to all theories of court reporting. The great failing of stenography programs is that they adequately teach you how to finger the keys, but they utterly ignore how to make the movements.`

`Anybody who tells you that stenography will take you two years is outright lying to you or they are misinformed. There is a very small percentage who complete it in that time. Most will not complete it in three years. That's okay. It is a skill. It takes time to learn a skill. And this particular skill is in demand.`

`On the other hand, anybody who strokes correct strokes at all times has a good chance to complete the course in three years. The problem is that as soon as your initial theory classes are completed, you are thrown into speed classes. At that point, almost all students begin to write junky strokes in an attempt to gain speed. It doesn't work that way, but the schools and the books do not offer any advice on how to gain speed. Only our site and Phoenix Theory address the issue.`

`There are more than a few big-money sites by people who put out books and tapes that are purported to help you learn to gain speed. The basic gist behind these sites is that you should push yourself as hard as you possibly can. Many of these sites are run by people who have become speed champions in our craft. Stay away from those sites. These people are not teachers, and they don't have a clue.`

`The idea that students should push for speed is accepted by most of our schools. The same concept is soundly denounced by all schools, all teachers, and all books in comparable professions. No one anywhere outside of stenography agrees with those methods. For every student who succeeds by pushing for speed above all else, 25 students fail by using the same methods.`

`Further, that one student who succeeds does so with an extreme amount of trouble mastering the skills. No student who writes correct outlines and follows the four rules will fail at stenography.`

`Our principles are exactly the same as those used by typists, musicians, athletes or anybody else who performs a physical skill. They have been tested and confirmed as solid for thousands of years. In short, stenography doesn't require a great amount of talent. What it requires is a working knowledge of how to analyze your work, how to move from one stroke to another, and how to stay under control.`

`If you end up writing CART, you will probably be able to move into a captioning or realtime job with little trouble. They are closely related, and the job openings cannot be filled fast enough. We don't offer a tutoring program. We have an extensive amount of info on our site. Much of it cannot be found anywhere else in the steno world. In fact, we have a backlog of articles that we would publish if we had the time. One day, we will. It takes time.`

`When you are halfway through your initial theory class, write to us and ask us about the article that explains the four rules of stenography. There are only four rules that must be followed. Everything else is window dressing. The article would not be understood by you right now, so wait for a while. Even halfway through theory, the concepts would be hard to understand, but it is important that you know how to handle the speed situation when it arises.`

`We didn't reply to your e-mail immediately. We are undermanned. (Same reason for why we don't publish all of our articles) But we will get a reply to you. Stenography is booming. The shortage of reporters will continue for a long time. Good luck. The Guys at Court Reporting Help`

Click here to purchase the Speed Teacher

Goofy

Lower Keys Finger Drill

How to Take a Test

The Four Basic Writers

How to Grade a Test

Easy Errors

Harry S Truman and why you don't put a period after the middle initial.

John F. Kennedy and why he is not a jelly doughnut.

A harangue by Buzz Gadflie on those junky plastic paper trays.

Speed Building Joseph Kinaim

Words of Wisdom

The Rhythm Method Barb DeWitt