It is now the beginning of August. So I have officially been in the program for 3 months. Time has went by fast so far. I just started Lesson 12, So an average of a lesson a week. My goal was to complete theory in 6 months, and at this point, that seems realistic. Well, my thoughts on the program are still positive. I watched my sister at a Depo, and I watched her write lesson 11 audio drill. It is amazing to see how different our theories are, but yet very similar in ways. After seeing how she writes certain words, I understand the CRAH theory better, or rather, understand the thought put into making it easier to learn. She learned Phoenix, which is "stroke intensive." When I first started out on this journey, I thought stroke intensive was a bad thing. Now I am see how trying to shorten writing can actually slow you down, when in fact, you are trying to do the opposite. When you start looking into your future career and see you have to reach a steady speed of 225 wpm, you think that you will have to brief everything in order to reach those speeds. And, in part, that is true. However, I watched my sister write out words, even as a working and successful reporter. I talked to Linda Bland about this, as well as my sister. It is faster to write some words that do not come automatically to you. 

This article is for Catherine and Britta. Two of my readers. I know speed building is in all of our futures, however, these two should be starting soon. Keep in touch! I am so excited for you both to start the next leg of the journey. 

by CAROL DOROTHY 

Every working court reporter was once a student.  And we all remember the intensity, pressure and frustration of taking speed tests.  Each of us had different strategies we used to concentrate and get every word when the speed was a real challenge.  What we learned as we became working reporters is that these strategies were useful beyond our days in the classroom.  There are times for every court reporter when the testimony is coming in at speeds that are challenging.  At those times, the old strategies for coping with high speeds kick in.

With students in mind, I asked some court reporters and students for tips on building speed and what worked for them.  I wanted to share their great advice with you.

Court Reporting Speed-Building Tips: Brigette Sumeraj
(Proofreader and former freelance reporter in the greater Chicago area)