I think I'm losing motivation. I am working insanely hard this semester. I go to school every day and stay for at least 6 hours, I practice dictation tapes, I read back my notes, I study my briefs, and I make notes of words I write incorrectly and practice them again. Yet, I'm still not passing my goal tests. It's really starting to frustrate me. It's making me not want to practice. I know that will only make the problem worse so I am still trying, but my heart isn't in it right now.
Hopefully, this is just a phase and I'll get over it soon. I really need a good test to get me out of this funk. Any motivational words would help right now.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Yes, I'm STILL in school
I'm sure all court reporting students hear the same questions and comments: Are you still in school? How much longer until you're done? It seems like you've been there forever.
Well...yes, I have no idea, and you're right, it does seem like that.
It can be very frustrating. People who are not in court reporting school, just don't understand. I never know what to tell people. I wish I were out of school, but it's not like a regular school subject. There's no set time limit. It takes as long as it takes to get fast enough.
I was complaining to my husband about how I get so tired of people asking me why I'm not done yet and he gave me a very insightful response. He told me to explain to people that it's like becoming a virtuoso on a musical instrument. I think that is exactly right. Who puts a time limit on mastering an instrument? It takes as long as it takes and it takes a lot of practice. I would never have thought of it like that; probably, because I am NOT a musical person whatsoever. My husband is a drummer, and he knows what that is like. So, thank you honey. I'm so glad you get it. It's just another sign that I married the right man.
Well...yes, I have no idea, and you're right, it does seem like that.
It can be very frustrating. People who are not in court reporting school, just don't understand. I never know what to tell people. I wish I were out of school, but it's not like a regular school subject. There's no set time limit. It takes as long as it takes to get fast enough.
I was complaining to my husband about how I get so tired of people asking me why I'm not done yet and he gave me a very insightful response. He told me to explain to people that it's like becoming a virtuoso on a musical instrument. I think that is exactly right. Who puts a time limit on mastering an instrument? It takes as long as it takes and it takes a lot of practice. I would never have thought of it like that; probably, because I am NOT a musical person whatsoever. My husband is a drummer, and he knows what that is like. So, thank you honey. I'm so glad you get it. It's just another sign that I married the right man.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
I'll show you my briefs if you show me yours
Briefing seems to be a controversial subject. A brief is basically an abbreviation. Sometimes a brief can be a shorter way to write a word, but it can also be a way to write a whole phrase. Since I have been going to school 5 days a week to both low and high speed classes, I have gotten a chance to talk to some high speed students about what works for them. The thing I hear most often is: briefs.
When I was a theory student, the teachers told me to be careful not to use too many briefs. I think the reason for this, is that students can use briefs as a crutch; they seem to rely on shortening everything. The problem with this is, that when words come up that the student doesn't have a brief for, they simply cannot write that fast. Also, sometimes it takes a minute to remember a brief that they haven't practiced recently, this hesitation can cost a person the whole test. A tiny hesitation, can ruin everything.
I listened to my teachers and I really don't brief many things, but I think I was wrong. I think the secret is to brief things that come up all the time, and then practice them regularly. Don't brief things that you don't hear at least twice a month, you will forget them and then they will cause hesitation when you do hear them because you'll start trying to remember your brief and stop listing to the dictation.
The high speed students have been sharing their briefs with me. It's amazing, the things they can write in one stroke. Wow, I would never have thought of all these things. A friend of mine taught me how to write, "ANSWER: I do not remember." all in one stroke. What a time saver! It took me 5 strokes to write that before. If I can master all of these I'll be writing 200 in no time.
I also heard about a great website: briefpedia If you want a brief for a phrase or word, just type it in, and the website will provide you with a list of suggestions for briefs, it also lists possible conflicts that might occur with other words. Check it out! This 5 days a week thing, is helping me in lots of ways. I get extra practice, and extra tips.
Today I got 92% on a 150 jury charge. No goal speed passes yet, but hopefully after I master these briefs I'll have a breakthrough. Let me know some of the cool briefs you use. I'll show you mine, if you show me yours.
When I was a theory student, the teachers told me to be careful not to use too many briefs. I think the reason for this, is that students can use briefs as a crutch; they seem to rely on shortening everything. The problem with this is, that when words come up that the student doesn't have a brief for, they simply cannot write that fast. Also, sometimes it takes a minute to remember a brief that they haven't practiced recently, this hesitation can cost a person the whole test. A tiny hesitation, can ruin everything.
I listened to my teachers and I really don't brief many things, but I think I was wrong. I think the secret is to brief things that come up all the time, and then practice them regularly. Don't brief things that you don't hear at least twice a month, you will forget them and then they will cause hesitation when you do hear them because you'll start trying to remember your brief and stop listing to the dictation.
The high speed students have been sharing their briefs with me. It's amazing, the things they can write in one stroke. Wow, I would never have thought of all these things. A friend of mine taught me how to write, "ANSWER: I do not remember." all in one stroke. What a time saver! It took me 5 strokes to write that before. If I can master all of these I'll be writing 200 in no time.
I also heard about a great website: briefpedia If you want a brief for a phrase or word, just type it in, and the website will provide you with a list of suggestions for briefs, it also lists possible conflicts that might occur with other words. Check it out! This 5 days a week thing, is helping me in lots of ways. I get extra practice, and extra tips.
Today I got 92% on a 150 jury charge. No goal speed passes yet, but hopefully after I master these briefs I'll have a breakthrough. Let me know some of the cool briefs you use. I'll show you mine, if you show me yours.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Long days
One of my goals this semester was to treat school like a full time job. So far. I'd say I've been pretty good. I'm in the lab practicing everyday, and I do all the homework. So far, no goal speed passes. I'm not quite frustrated yet, but if I don't see results soon, I know I will be. I really hope I pass something fast. It's almost 5:00 pm and I'm still at school. I got here at about 9:30 in the morning; that sure feels like full time hours to me, and I still have a thirty mile drive home (and now it's rush hour). Uggh.
Although I haven't passed anything, I had a nice surprise on a test I never expected to even transcribe. As you know, I've been sitting in push (fast) class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The class goes from 150 - 170 wpm and I haven't even passed all my 140s yet, so it's quite a push. I usually treat the 170 and 160 tests as practice and never put much faith or effort into them. Well, I took a 170, 4-voice test and, believe it or not, I got 85% of it!!!! That's amazing! I haven't really come that close to a 140 yet, so on a 170, it's truly unbelievable. Maybe the secret is that I wasn't even stressed or worried about it because I never dreamed it would be good or it could have just been an easy test. (it was probably just an easy one, but still, not too shabby!)
Hopefully, all that high speed practice will pay off soon. I'll let you know
Although I haven't passed anything, I had a nice surprise on a test I never expected to even transcribe. As you know, I've been sitting in push (fast) class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The class goes from 150 - 170 wpm and I haven't even passed all my 140s yet, so it's quite a push. I usually treat the 170 and 160 tests as practice and never put much faith or effort into them. Well, I took a 170, 4-voice test and, believe it or not, I got 85% of it!!!! That's amazing! I haven't really come that close to a 140 yet, so on a 170, it's truly unbelievable. Maybe the secret is that I wasn't even stressed or worried about it because I never dreamed it would be good or it could have just been an easy test. (it was probably just an easy one, but still, not too shabby!)
Hopefully, all that high speed practice will pay off soon. I'll let you know
Friday, January 22, 2010
Rain, Rain, Go Away
I have not seen it rain this much for the whole six years I've lived in Los Angeles. It's crazy, really. I thought this was a desert.
I have been driving to school 5 days a week now and other than the horrible rainy commute, it's been going well. I've gotten a lot of work done. As I mentioned last week, I've been sitting in what they call a "push" class (it's faster than a goal speed.) I transcribed a 150 wpm 4-voice test and a 160 wpm congressional test, both of which I got over 75% of! That's a big deal to me considering I haven't even passed a 140 wpm test in either of those subjects. On the 150 4-voice, I didn't miss a single speaker! The story is a little different with my "goal" tests. I'm not that close, but I do feel that I'm improving. I think some of it is nerves, but some of it is my lack of skills.
The rain is effecting my performance a little. My fingers get cold and then they don't move as fast as they normally do. I wonder if working reporters run into this problem while on the job. It's frustrating for sure. My brain says, "do it", but my fingers just can't. I wish I could wear gloves, but I think they would just slow me down even more.
I worked so hard this week, I'm feeling lazy right now. Would it be really bad for me to just leave and go watch a movie? I think I'm gonna. Shh, don't tell on me. I'll be right back in the lab working extra hard first thing Monday morning to make up for this lack of enthusiasm today.
I have been driving to school 5 days a week now and other than the horrible rainy commute, it's been going well. I've gotten a lot of work done. As I mentioned last week, I've been sitting in what they call a "push" class (it's faster than a goal speed.) I transcribed a 150 wpm 4-voice test and a 160 wpm congressional test, both of which I got over 75% of! That's a big deal to me considering I haven't even passed a 140 wpm test in either of those subjects. On the 150 4-voice, I didn't miss a single speaker! The story is a little different with my "goal" tests. I'm not that close, but I do feel that I'm improving. I think some of it is nerves, but some of it is my lack of skills.
The rain is effecting my performance a little. My fingers get cold and then they don't move as fast as they normally do. I wonder if working reporters run into this problem while on the job. It's frustrating for sure. My brain says, "do it", but my fingers just can't. I wish I could wear gloves, but I think they would just slow me down even more.
I worked so hard this week, I'm feeling lazy right now. Would it be really bad for me to just leave and go watch a movie? I think I'm gonna. Shh, don't tell on me. I'll be right back in the lab working extra hard first thing Monday morning to make up for this lack of enthusiasm today.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Another drop in the bucket
My teacher gave us the analogy of having a bucket in your brain. Every time you practice or show up to class, you put a drop in the bucket. Eventually, as the bucket fills you start to say, "I THINK I can do this". Then, that bucket will fill up and overflow and then the water starts to drip into another bucket in your heart, as that buckets fills, you start to say "I BELIEVE I can do this". After this bucket fills, it over flows into a third bucket in your gut, after that third bucket fills you start to say, "I KNOW I can do this" and that's ultimately where you need to be.
Today, I got up early, drove the 30 miles to school, practiced before class, and then attended class. I'd say that's worth a few drops; wouldn't you? I'm even staying at school after class for a little while to do a little more practicing.
I THINK I can do this!!
Today, I got up early, drove the 30 miles to school, practiced before class, and then attended class. I'd say that's worth a few drops; wouldn't you? I'm even staying at school after class for a little while to do a little more practicing.
I THINK I can do this!!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Back in the saddle again
School started up again this week. It's always hard to get back into the routine. Getting up early has never been and easy thing for me. I'm gonna really have to work on it. My cats have been trying to help me get up, but I usually just push them away. I think I need a louder alarm or something. Any suggestions?
This semester the department separated 140 wpm and 150 wpm. What does that mean? Well, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday the school offers class from 60 wpm all the way to 140 wpm. Then on Tuesday and Thursday, they offer 150 wpm all the way to qualifiers at 200 wpm. The problem for me is that I have now passed a 140 jury charge test but I still have two more 140s to go, but I want to try to pass the 150 jury charge too, which means that in order to get all the tests I need I'm forced to come to school five days a week. I live 30 miles away from campus so I now have to drive an extra 120 miles a week! Apparently, I am the only one in the situation. I'm not sure why no other students are at the same speed as me, but they aren't so I had to go talk to the teachers and work out a deal so that I can be allowed to sit in the extra class without being enrolled in it. I quit working during the week so that I can really focus on school.
I have a new teacher in the 140wpm class and I'm feeling really good about her. She seems like she really wants us to improve. I have a good feeling about this semester and I know I'm really gonna rock. Coming five days a week is going to force me to practice every day and hopefully, I'll reap the benefits of it. I'll keep you all posted on how this new schedule works out. My prediction is: it's either gonna make me so much faster or it's gonna kill me. I'm sure it's one or the other. We'll see.
This semester the department separated 140 wpm and 150 wpm. What does that mean? Well, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday the school offers class from 60 wpm all the way to 140 wpm. Then on Tuesday and Thursday, they offer 150 wpm all the way to qualifiers at 200 wpm. The problem for me is that I have now passed a 140 jury charge test but I still have two more 140s to go, but I want to try to pass the 150 jury charge too, which means that in order to get all the tests I need I'm forced to come to school five days a week. I live 30 miles away from campus so I now have to drive an extra 120 miles a week! Apparently, I am the only one in the situation. I'm not sure why no other students are at the same speed as me, but they aren't so I had to go talk to the teachers and work out a deal so that I can be allowed to sit in the extra class without being enrolled in it. I quit working during the week so that I can really focus on school.
I have a new teacher in the 140wpm class and I'm feeling really good about her. She seems like she really wants us to improve. I have a good feeling about this semester and I know I'm really gonna rock. Coming five days a week is going to force me to practice every day and hopefully, I'll reap the benefits of it. I'll keep you all posted on how this new schedule works out. My prediction is: it's either gonna make me so much faster or it's gonna kill me. I'm sure it's one or the other. We'll see.
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