Monette's Musings > Court Reporter Tutor
Court Reporter Tutor
Author: monette | Category: captioning prep, CART provider, Coach, court reporter certification, Court Reporter Tutor, CRRbooks.com, Life Coach, NCRA Court Reporters, Uncategorized, Written Knowledge Test
You, Ken-Tu, And The Mockingbird
~~ Originally published in my column “Beyond The Comfort Zone” within NCRA’s Journal of Court Reporting, JCR
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved
Some days are not dull. I swear my life could be a sitcom. This is only one gem when silliness seemed to unfold at record pace.
I view many ‘life lessons’ as I read forums and e-mails from court reporters and reporting students. Respectfully, I share my life lesson below.
My sister-in-law appeared with nephews and skateboarding teens. She needed help closing her car’s trunk because the key had broken inside the lock.
(Schools were closed for the swine flu. Locally, skateboarding kids gathered in ‘teen pods’ [my term] – pretending to cough on each other, while laughing at ‘the’ adults.) That is the moment a cat appeared from the heavens on her car roof as we worked to help her close the trunk, so she could drive home.
In the driveway, a nephew gasped and pointed, “Hey! Where did that cat come from? It catapulted from the sky!”
The cat was bleeding with multiple fresh wounds on both sides of its neck and back.
Then the cat raced into our garage. Immediately, ‘cat’ sat with its front paws pointed ‘to’ the exact spot where [then] husband said a few hours earlier, “I wish I could do something about that mouse in the garage!”
That first night, still in the garage, I sat with him. The cat placed a warm, dead mouse near my feet. How do I know? I picked it up. Yes, eugh.
He did not understand any words except “stop that.” I did not want to name him Stop That.
I spoke to him saying, “You-ken-tu” and “He-ken-tu” as I observed the cat, considered adopting this wounded animal. Perhaps someone was missing their pet? I named the cat Ken-Tu.
The vet shared Ken-Tu is eight years old and had been “homeless at least one year – possibly more, based upon deformed ears, ear mites and bulbous tumor that exploded, creating a cauliflower ear.” He also shared that the cat had old wounds, scars, and had been used “in fights.” The vet said solemnly, “Based on what I see – NO one is looking for ‘this’ cat.” Of course, I hugged the new cat in our family. Ken-Tu ‘healed’ in the garage (post a huge vet bill).
Years ago, I volunteered with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, SVDP, as a caseworker. I also volunteered to assist in the initial organization of a new no-kill animal shelter (rescuing wild and abandoned animals) and a new women’s shelter. I learned many ‘life lessons’.
Each event was a teacher, to me.
For years, I filled my car for families, children, rest homes, churches, and hospitals helping a wide area. I then delivered donations and offerings to individuals and churches.
(Also, I learned that damaged clothing, items, could be donated to the State hospital. There, long-term patients were rewarded for positive behavior in the psych ward. Items that needed repairing were ‘repaired’ by other patients learning ‘life skills’. When ‘fixed’, those items were placed in the hospital thrift store. Positive behavior was rewarded with coupons. Coupons presented new gifts for the patients. To me, win/win! I added the State hospital and their staff to the list. We had great fun.) Life lessons were plentiful …
The weekend I’m documenting with Ken-Tu, I was assisting my cat Chicos, a special spirit, who was in kidney failure for eight months. I softly teased people that I was the hand-maiden who shared food in syringes and “closed the deal.” (We have rituals; cats love rituals.) I administered IV subcu fluids, as needed. I knew that Chicos and I were rounding another one-way corner.
The court reporters and students whom I privately tutored and coached reached out to me. I know Chicos’ life was extended as others shared their personal experiences and their wisdom.
Soon on a Sunday, we decided to bring Ken-Tu into the humble house, which already had two cats and one 70-pound, two-year old dog (all rescued animals). Ken-Tu was in the laundry room, snarling as needed. At 17 pounds – our ‘starving kitty’ was a force. (Because of abuse – with little provocation – he swung overhand.)
That afternoon – just prior to bringing the cat ‘in’ from the outdoors – my husband went to the store. Upon each return, I know he usually rushes in with the groceries. In my worry that he would trip over Ken-Tu (who was passionately vaulting head first into the laundry door to get back into the garage) – I opened the laundry room door to avoid a collision with then husband and this cat.
Thus, silliness begins.
Ken-Tu sprinted through the garage to the front yard. Husband stopped, his arms loaded with groceries.
I immediately went after Ken-Tu, but I’m not as fast as the mockingbird in our front yard. (Within the garage, Ken-Tu stood on a car roof looking through the window at that bird. The bird flew by the window and appeared to be well aware that a cat was watching. Oh yes.)
Immediately, the mockingbird began diving Ken-Tu’s head, Beak first. I headed for ‘escaped’ cat, avoiding all eye contact with husband.
The cat darts for cover – in the neighbor’s large hedges. Husband was cussing. It’s Texas hot; he immediately departed for Lowe’s – “to return later.” Husband drove off; did not look back.
With my arms outstretched, I called Ken-Tu. The mockingbird never dove for me but flushed the cat out of the neighbor’s hedges. The cat scampered, low to the ground – racing into my yard, and under our hedges. As I tried to retrieve this cat, Ken-Tu accurately swatted me.
In realtime, I remembered that neighbors might be watching – I’m in my short shorts bent over this cat in my front yard. I can just imagine someone saying, “Yes, and she hit that kitty.” (No one could see the scratches ‘leaking’ small amounts of blood.)
I refrained from hitting the cat, which was swinging overhand with two paws after he rolled in dirt around all hedges.
I refocused on trying to coax cat back into our garage – until my meter goes off – and then I’m done.
I lowered the garage door to the height a ‘starving’ cat could return to his food. Done. I returned into house. The kung-fu kitty was on its own.
Soon, I feel guilty. I sit in an uncomfortable lawn chair within my garage, reading my JCR, Journal of Court Reporting, calling Ken-Tu until ‘that’ becomes silly.
The entire time, I can tell exactly where Ken-Tu was because of the mockingbird and its shrieks. That bird was working to injure that cat – feathers flew.
Later, I heard the garage open; husband does not immediately enter. When he did, this husband was ‘not’ happy.
Red-faced, slowly (perhaps to contain anger?) he asked, “Did you know the mockingbird was in the garage when I pulled my car in?”
Me: “WHAT!?”
Husband: “Yes, dear, it was in, flying all over the garage.”
Me: “That can’t be. I left the garage door cracked just a little.”
He: “Then that bird followed Ken-Tu. The cat was lying on his towel licking himself. The bird was flying into the walls and the ceiling. When I opened the door, it became trapped within the small space between the garage door and ceiling.”
Me: “WHAT!?”
He: “Yes, then – I had to get a broom.”
Me: “WHAT!?” (I could not keep a straight face.)
He: “The bird was frantic. It was throwing itself around, hurting itself.”
Me: “Really???”
He: “So, I had to use the broom. Open the door to the side yard. Move the mower and yard equipment. And sweep that bird out the side door – not an easy job – as it became more frantic.”
Me: “Maybe that bird will move? Where’s Ken-Tu?”
He: “Asleep in the garage. What the hell were you thinking?”
Ken-Tu strolled in, as if on cue, moved to the dining room and began pre-emptive screaming. If something looked at him, Ken-Tu screamed.
And the large dog? You don’t want to know.
Soon Ken-Tu moved into the bedroom. Woah, daddy! Did kitty spit and hair fly.
But as life rolled itself forward, events calmed down. Ken-Tu now spends his time in the dead armadillo pose.
As we prepare for the holidays, I wish you great peace and the ability to laugh at some of your/our silliness. I know ‘you-ken-tu’ grow from life’s lessons.
The day before I submitted this series, Chicos died in my arms.
I want to share with you that I continue to learn multiple lessons from this one question: “Is my life better from this experience?”
My answer today is ‘yes’ regarding Chicos and yes, Ken-Tu.
And the mockingbird? It’s back – singing, not screaming, perched on the garage roof.
Now I ask you, “What makes your experiences and your life lessons better?”
About Monette: Monette Benoit, an experienced 35+ year court reporter, has taught multiple theories, all academics, speed classes, and 225-homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and community college. Daughter of educators, Monette understands challenges in our multi-faceted, growing industry.
In 1993, she CART captioned for a Deaf mass, San Antonio, Texas. Wonderful opportunities presented from Big D, Little D, Oral Deaf, HOH, hard-of-hearing individuals – special moments.
Monette has worked with thousands of professionals, students, instructors. She’s worked to create new court reporting programs, worked with federal grants, assisted instructors in developing curriculum for in-class and online students. Years ago, she was named the Court Reporting Whisperer by CR students and reporters.
Her confidential tutoring, coaching, has assisted thousands to advance with specific, custom-designed guidance!
Monette’s Musings is an informative, motivational blog for busy individuals seeking to create success –and– to enjoy this special path. Monette’s goal IS your success.
An American RealTime/Captioning Services, LLC: www.ARTCS.com Monette may be contacted www.CRRbooks.com – Monette.purplebooks@CRRbooks.com Blog: www.monettebenoit.com
20 Oct 2021
Author: monette | Category: ASL, CART/captioning, Court Reporter Tutor, Goal Setting, Test Prep, WKT prep | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
She’s the CARTographer; She Does CARTography!
~~ Originally published in my column “Beyond The Comfort Zone” within NCRA’s Journal of Court Reporting, JCR
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved
Arriving home Christmas evening, we received the call that a friend’s father had died.
“The wake is tomorrow. Could you attend?” While my family checked funeral attire, I pulled the obituary for specifics. I had first met the deceased gentleman and family 25 years ago.
The next evening, we walked into the crowded funeral parlor. The main lobby split off into a separate room, which then extended to a smaller room. Immediate family members and the casket were in this smallest room.
We were hugged by people we had not seen in a long time.
People approached saying, “Hey, I know you.” I giggled each time. I spoke to an “ex” (of deceased in-laws) who attended; we caught up on events, families. Soon the “ex” said, “I really should be going – you know.” I giggled. Yes, I knew.
The man who died had a wonderful family.
His 92-year old mother was in the smallest room with his widow, children, grandchildren, friends and co-workers. People approached to view photographs, then spoke to the family to say good-bye before departing the wake.
Alone for a moment, I sat in the chair by the door. (As court reporters we are trained to be master observers.)
Multiple mini-groups gathered. People were consoling family, politely bumping into others within this smallest room. Men and women held hands and offered tissues. My husband spoke to a small group.
I saw a woman gesture –– and then stop her gesture with her other arm. I smiled. (My February 2007 column “CART, Signs and The Library,” describes a typical day in my world.) She looked familiar. I hoped I was not staring.
My husband motioned to me; I stepped forward in the small room.
After introductions to the group, I said softly to one lady, “It’s been a while; I believe we know each other.”
She laughed; again I saw a hand and wrist gesture.
I asked, “Are you a sign interpreter?”
As we stood together, she turned her head. And when she turned, I saw her profile –– at the same angle I remember as I CARTed her work and projected realtime voiced text to large screens.
We had worked multiple large events together; she – sign terp (interpreter), me, CART captioner.
I softly asked, “You’re the sign interpreter who drove the crappy car and lived in the country, aren’t you?”
She shrieked, “YES! I can’t believe you remember that! I did drive a crappy car. You’re the CARTographer!”
She launched into my lungs; she threw herself at me in a long-lost friendship hug.
She screamed into my right ear, “You’re Moe-net!”
While gripped in this realtime hug two feet from my left elbow was the open casket of the man whose funeral we were attending. I winced, frowned and looked to the adult children.
The person who invited us froze, then said to his grandmother, mother, and “full” family: “It’s okay, everybody. They’re old friends who just found each other! That’s why they’re hugging, laughing.”
A long silence, a pause, hung in the air.
My head down, I was still gripped in this extremely tight realtime hug, I peeked over to the 92-year old mother, widow, his family.
Soon, in unison, a collective sigh, “oh,” floated from each person.
I heard, “They’re old friends” drift into the larger room and then lobby. Startled looks now were replaced with bright smiles.
Large groups nodded their approval.
My head still respectfully down, I looked to the interpreter softly saying, “You complained about your crappy car. I had to write the word ‘crappy’ on large screens a lot. I remember you.” (In 1993, I wrote “crap [delete space] y”; it translated correctly. Thank you, God.)
She howled with laughter. Everyone, to include people, kneeling, praying at the casket, smiled.
I said softly, “This does seem surreal, doesn’t it?”
She said, “I never forgot you after all the jobs we worked together. Has it been 14 years? I always remember you as the CARTographer. You were the first.”
Still cautious of this event, where we were ––surrounded by large funeral wreaths, and an open casket –– I smiled.
She began introducing me to people saying, “She’s my friend, the CARTographer. She does CARTography!”
Each person smiled; some tilted their heads. I said not a word until the fourth introduction. I quietly asked, “May I?” Everyone nodded.
I softly said, “CART –– court reporting – like captioning –”
But the interpreter, “No, she’s the CARTographer. Trust me. I found my old friend. This is wonderful!”
Head down, I watched the family. She and I exchanged private information and promised to keep in touch.
After the interpreter (ASL Master Level 5) departed, I stepped back to my chair and sat.
I was watching the 92-year old mother. She sat alone. I stood, stepped to my right in one step; I put my hand on her shoulder. She smiled up at me.
Slowly, I began to rub her shoulder, her back. Then I leaned over, and without a word, I hugged her.
She looked up to me saying, “I can’t see very well.” After a long pause with continued eye contact, I asked why not.
She said, “I’ve cried so many tears today, my eyeglasses are filthy. I can’t see from all tears I’ve shed today. He was my son…”
I raised my voice and called to her great-granddaughter, Kathy.
Within seconds, I addressed the adult (whom I’ve known 18 years), “Here. These eyeglasses need to be washed. Do you want to do that for her?”
Kathy took the glasses, ran off.
I looked back to the woman and softly said, “Oh, she’ll feel so good helping you. Now we just had to do that for her, didn’t we?” We both burst into loud laughter.
When the sparkling eyeglasses were returned, she beamed, “I can see now. I can see everyone and my son (in casket). Oh, I have lived to see so many miracles. Thank you. You’re the CARTographer, aren’t you?”
I looked to this sweet woman, “Yes, I am.” I added, “I’m also a court reporter.”
She said, “Oh, but this CARTography sounds so much more interesting. Thank you for coming to my son’s funeral and for bringing laughter here tonight to so many. I’m so glad to meet you. And now I can see.”
The court reporter in me was proud and humbled to experience this event culminated by a 25-year friendship and my CART services 14 years ago into a special memory-moment (deaf phrase).
That evening I chose to decline the opportunity to accurately, with spec details, define my CART description.
As I prepped to leave, a sibling (a son of the deceased man) I did not know approached to say good-bye.
He looked tired and sad. He leaned on the doorframe saying to me, “I don’t have a baby brother any more.”
I gasped.
Those were my exact “first” words when I was told my brother was dead.
(I had gasped and looked to my husband saying, “I don’t have a baby brother any more.” Kevin hated the word ‘baby’.)
Hesitating, I looked to this adult son that evening.
Everyone in the room had paused and waited.
I slowly, softly – voice cracking, said, “The hardest part is learning to get past ‘I have…’ to ‘I had…’ It’s the ‘a’ in each word,” and I paused.
As I paused, the gentleman leaned over to rub my shoulder.
He said “I hear you’re the CARTographer. It’s like Camelot. Your work is CART-a-lot, right?”
I nodded while he rubbed my shoulders.
When I glanced up, his eyes were red, moist; his mother’s eyes were crystal clear. She sparkled.
It is an honor to share what we do each day. I listened, laughed, hugged, rubbed shoulders, and had my shoulders rubbed in consolation.
That evening confirmed again how grateful I am for possibilities that appear each day, each evening within each gathering of people.
And now I ask you: “Can you see?”
Named the Court Reporting Whisperer by students, Monette may be reached: Monette.purplebooks@CRRbooks.com
Purple Books – Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com * Advance skills, pass NCRA and State exams the 1st time
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal, CART Captioner, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
Since 1990: Multiple Title Author of Books & Purple Books Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART Captioning Profession
An American RealTime/Captioning Services, LLC: www.ARTCS.com Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RDR, or a State exam? More than once? Purple Books “Done in One” has a 98% successful pass rate on exams with sets as evidenced by thousands of students and professionals who pass their RPR, CSR, and RDR exams on the first test. Testimonials: www.CRRbooks.com.
Reach Your Goals: http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29 Where do you want to go? Specific custom-designed guidance will efficiently assist you!
About Monette Benoit: As a 30+ year court reporter, CART captioner, author of NCRA and State test-prep material, instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and 225-homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands challenges many adults face in our industry.
In 1993, she began to CART caption to a large screen for a Deaf mass, San Antonio, Texas. Wonderful opportunities then presented from Big D, Little D, Oral Deaf, HOH consumers -each with special moments.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART captioners, students, instructors. She has helped to create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is an informative, motivational, and funny blog for busy professionals and students who seek to create their success and who seek to enjoy this special path.
08 May 2020
Author: monette | Category: ADA, ASL, Big D, CART provider, CART/captioning, Coach, college CART, Court Reporter Tutor, Court Reporting Whisperer, Deaf, HCV, HLAA, HOH, Interpreter, Life Coach, Monette's Musings, NCRA RPR Test Prep, Sign Interpreters | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
You All Start In CART Now, Right?
~~ Originally published in my column “Beyond The Comfort Zone” within NCRA’s Journal of Court Reporting, JCR
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved
An invitation to join friends (each working in college student services) for lunch with their colleagues began with introductions. I selected the restaurant, away from busy “spots” as many were new to this city.
While chewing my sandwich, a college disability coordinator, asked, “Monette, you’re a court reporter, right?” I nodded.
“Monette, you’ve provided CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) a long time, right?”
I nodded, still chewing my food.
The third question was the stun-err-roo when a woman seated at our crowded table asked, “Monette, (long pause) all court reporters ‘start’ in CART, right?”
I blinked hard and looked to my friends. They gave me a blank look; I sensed this topic had already been discussed prior to this gathering.
I did not nod. I sipped my tea, tipped my head. Thinking. Thinking.
The professional then said, “All court reporters start in CART now, right? That’s where they get their training, so they can then go into court and get other good work, right? It’s a simple question.”
Oh, Lord! My simple lunch was now halted as each person awaited my reply.
I worked to not appear stunned – now wearing my court reporter face that we know well.
I replied with a question – asking if each person is familiar with CART.
I was thinking how to answer a simple question that did not appear to be simple to the individuals waiting for my words.
And I felt they knew it was not a simple question, too, due to the manner it was asked, and the complete silence at the table.
“We want to know if this is where all court reporters now begin their work? It’s the place to start now, right?”
Again, I looked to my friends.
Not one person offered any words to assist me. Nope. I was clearly on my own.
Slowly, I shared, “Our realtime skills now afford court reporters, CART providers, and captioners multiple opportunities. Many professionals work in multiple venues. We are trained with specific skills, earn certifications, attend conventions …” No one was eating now.
Then they began to share, “We have found that the CART individuals now providing CART for many colleges and universities are clearly learning how to.”
I did not ask the name of companies or individuals providing CART captioning.
This gathering was not a continuing education seminar. Nor did I want to miss the opportunity to share the wonderful services we do provide, 24/7.
I also did not ask the “visiting professionals” the questions I might have asked my friends.
I wanted to ask if they or their schools had gone with the lowest bid and was the work provided by individuals who have completed court reporting school.
I watched my friends who had invited me to this gathering. (They schedule CART captioning for their students.)
I know that a few, perhaps, had been paying experienced CART providers and now are permitting students to provide CART to earn school credits.
Since that discussion was not tossed onto the table, I decided to avoid that scenario entirely – unless it was brought up.
In another forum or within a scheduled meeting, those questions – might have been appropriate.
This was still the light, breezy lunch in a quiet location (their words) “to get away from work and work topics” – yet, this was gifted to me.
Part of me wanted to say, “Okay. Bring it on. Let’s go there. Amplification? Microphones? Where? On professor? Near the student? Near the person hired to capture words for realtime display? Acoustics? Classroom or auditorium? Prep given to CART captioner? CART provided over net? Using what? Have you ever asked the CART captioner if they need anything to provide their services? Does the consumer wear a hearing aid? Cochlear implant? Is rough ASCII provided at end of class -or multiple days later – as may be requested by someone not experienced…? Is CART captioner able to communicate directly with consumer? Is the verbatim text for one student or many? Laptop or overhead projection?”
Oh, I had questions. Multiple.
I decided not to defend our work or to ask the above multiple questions. I was not their lunching CART consultant that day. (If you disagree, I wish you had been at that table.)
I know that many “coordinators” working in student services departments answer to others – yet, others are often not part of student services. Having worked in a (very) large college and private schools, I know there are often many “chiefs” – not just one.
I succinctly shared that we provide onsite and remote services. Communication with the student, scheduling department, instructor, student, and CART captioner is essential. Then I smiled, picked up my sandwich, and continued eating.
Were we done?
No. (Darn.)
Several individuals began to discuss their “multiple problems” and “CART beginners” they are working with now as they were still “convinced that this is where all court reporters now begin their work.”
I listened. Continued sipping my tea.
When I was again asked for my thoughts, I did not sigh. I did not roll my eyes.
I asked each person to write down the NCRA, National Court Reporters Association, web address and also to contact their state court reporting associations.
In unison, they replied, “We’ve never considered doing that.”
I asked that they “remember that we – court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners – are trained with outstanding skills and discipline that might knock your socks off if you knew what we lived through each minute, each day to prepare us to share our professional work.”
Then I was asked if I knew where they could get cheaper notebooks “for our transcribers, students, who write on carbons for other students.”
My reply? “Nope. Can’t help there.” Then I put more food in my mouth.
When the waiter brought the ticket, several lunches [sic] gave me their cards.
As we departed, I calmly walked to my friends and quickly pinched each person.
I said, “Gee, thanks. A simple heads up or any assistance to avoid me holding a court reporting – CART captioning seminar might have been nice.”
They howled and said, “Monette, this was what they needed to hear – what we all needed to hear. Maybe you could write an article about this, so court reporters know that we, disability and student services coordinators, find there to be such a large difference in skills among the CART writers. That’s all.”
Yes, I pinched each again, maybe harder than the first pinch.
Ah, when we are enjoying a casual meal, a relaxing moment, our work may still become an opportunity for education and advocacy.
One of my positive takeaways, which I did not share with the individuals, was that I was impressed they knew the word “CART.”
They did not say “captioning” as in days of old.
Though I would have liked to have heard a positive comment, they were aware that the colleges were providing this “service” because we have to, per law… “And there’s that,” I avoided saying.
Alone, I focused on the advocacy of all our years of work and thanked the Lord that the lunch was over. Oh, yes, I did.
—- Monette, named the Court Reporting Whisperer by students, may be reached: Monette.purplebooks@CRRbooks.com
Purple Books – Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com * Advance skills, pass NCRA and State exams the 1st time
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal, CART Captioner, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
Since 1990: Multiple Title Author of Books & Purple Books Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART Captioning Profession
An American RealTime/Captioning Services, LLC: www.ARTCS.com Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RDR, or a State exam? More than once? Purple Books “Done in One” has a 98% successful pass rate on exams with sets as evidenced by thousands of students and professionals who pass their RPR, CSR, and RDR exams on the first test. Testimonials: www.CRRbooks.com.
Reach Your Goals: http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29 Where do you want to go? Specific custom-designed guidance will efficiently assist you!
About Monette Benoit: As a 30+ year court reporter, CART captioner, author of NCRA and State test-prep material, instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and 225-homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands challenges many adults face in our industry.
In 1993, she began to CART caption to a large screen for a Deaf mass, San Antonio, Texas. Wonderful opportunities then presented from Big D, Little D, Oral Deaf, HOH consumers -each with special moments.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART captioners, students, instructors. She has helped to create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is an informative, motivational, and funny blog for busy professionals and students who seek to create their success and who seek to enjoy this special path.
01 May 2020
Author: monette | Category: Captain Kevin Drue Donnelly, CART/captioning, Certify NCRA RPR Test Prep, Court Reporter Tutor, Monette Benoit, Sign Interpreters | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
CART Captioning, Sign Language, The Library, Emmett, And Another Typical Day For You, Right?
~~ Originally published in my column “Beyond The Comfort Zone” within NCRA’s Journal of Court Reporting, JCR
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
This sunny, cool Saturday in January involved a trip to the San Antonio library.
My father, with cancer, enjoys listening to books. He rents audio books and purchases library cards to expand the selection, so he can listen to books.
This man, with a deep educational training and medical background (social worker, medic, psych work in the Army and worked to develop the ‘new’ Vet Admin psych department in Houston) will not dwell on his illness.
He continues to volunteer in the local E.R. assisting triage nurses admit E.R. patients before he revamped the entire E.R., so “they could more efficiently assist E.R. patients waiting for hours – ‘and’ the wonderful nurses – working to assist everyone.” (Oh yes he did…) And the nurses loved Mr. Emmett. He called them “my girls.” I would gasp each time. “Dad, women do not like to be called ‘girls’ by anyone, especially a man.” The nurses would smile and laugh, “He CAN. We like it when ‘he’ calls us that. We do.” I always stood silent, staring direct to my father who insisted I never permit anyone ever to call me “a girl” in my adult life. We had us a father-daughter moment each time this conversation occurred because he would smile and the nurses would laugh – having ‘their’ moment.
After his E.R. revamp (he created spreadsheets he showed me, designed the “efficient flow”) the hospital then terminated this volunteer man (really) and hired two full-time people to run their “more efficient” E.R. (Oh yes they did.)
Then, hospital asked Emmett to ‘stay’ — Emmett refused to sit at the hospital front desk answering questions directing people to the cafeteria, he told them – and me. Oh yes he did.
Emmett then created a confidential position in the hospital as a “patient – nurse advocate.” Only the hospital CEO knew… CEO created new nametags for he and Emmett with ‘football’ favorite teams. Each proudly wore their unique tag listing the football team and their name’ when inside the hospital. (“I like helping people,” Emmett frequently shares. “And I want to help others who are less fortunate or in need. I have to get on with my life. Busy, busy, busy, that’s me.”)
Doctors recently told Emmett Donnelly they are unable to explain why or how he is here – since 2002.
He was told, quote, “Go on, live your life; we can not explain this.” The lead specialist then shook his hand.
We, his family, live white-knuckled, moment to moment; Emmett lives adventure to adventure.
And Mom? She has ‘upped’ her praying, she says — eyebrows raised to us. Yes.
The library trip was way up on his list, so Dad could borrow my card tapping a larger audio selection.
Who says no to this request? Not moi.
After lunch, we drove to the library, updated records, I was handed an updated library card. I handed Emmett my card for his key ring.
Emmett’s eyes lit up; you would have thought he’d won the lottery.
Immediately, he headed to the computers.
During lunch, daughter answered father-questions to include books daughter is reading. This was an ongoing conversation my entire life – from the man who took his only daughter – sans his three sons to the library each Thursday. Every. Thursday. Our. Evening. Then, we often went for ice cream. “Those who do not read are condemned to live but one life,” I learned at a very young age from Daddy.
Back to lunch – as daughter answered questions and we sipped our wine, father wanted to share an author he thought daughter should read. Hang in here, I’m getting to the fate, luck, serendipity, blessings.
Emmett knelt on the floor in front of computer.
I sat on a child’s seat as father typed John Dos Passos for daughter.
Daughter typed Nigel Tranter for father. The computer displayed ‘author unknown’. I gasped. Nigel Tranter has written over 90 historical novels; I was sure I had mistyped.
The lady to my right leaned over, “excuse me” – knowledgeably sharing how to access the city terminal.
“Oh,” was our father and daughter response, communed in perfect unison – in realtime.
Emmett and I politely listened; then she volunteered, “I come here all the time. I’m finishing my degree online.”
I stepped back one step knowing Emmett, high school guidance counselor and adult career counselor for decades, historian, grammarian, master’s degree in education would bite the hook. Oh yes he did – quickly.
The lady volunteered, “I come here because I have a visual problem.”
We nodded, listening; she shared more information – then she included her child has special needs.
(My mother has a master’s degree in elementary special education – certified in two states; I was raised with a sibling who was labeled ‘always’ as special needs. We know code.)
I asked if she was familiar with Jaws (software assisting blind), she nodded, ducked her head, smiling.
As she spoke, I thought I saw it – motion; I watched as she placed her right wrist over the left wrist. Yes, I have seen that before.
Sonya (not real name) is new to Texas, her daughter is deaf-blind.
Once she shared this information, I asked a question about sign language – watching her wrists.
Sonya replied, “Yes, I sign.”
Then I went for the answer to the big question, “ASL certified?”
Sonya ducked her head, smiled, replying softly, “Yes, Level 5.” (5 is considered ‘master’ ASL level in many areas.)
In one fluid motion, I stepped forward, extended my hand, introducing myself as a court reporter and CART captioner who works with onsite and remote sign interpreters. She burst into laughter; I too busted-out laughing – in the silent library. (Another realtime deaf-moment within my world.)
Everyone in the library turned and stared – until we -in unison- stopped our outburst of laughter.
Emmett stepped back two steps (for privacy).
I asked if Sonya needed assistance, contacts; did she need people to help her family?
Sonya shared personal facts; I listened, then detailed people with whom I have worked in places she mentioned, and we laughed.
Again, librarians and others stared. Together we stopped laughing; we blinked in unison, smiling.
I asked about her deaf-blind daughter; Sonya shared daily multiple challenges.
Sonya and I covered a lot of ground – fast.
I gave her my business card for All ARTCS, Inc., All American Real-Time Captioning Services, Inc., volunteering to email names, services I knew would help Sonya’s family.
Sonya giggled, then shared her knowledge and skills of ASL (American Sign Language), HandSpeak (www.handspeak.com) and Cued Speed (www.cuedspeech.com).
We breezed through multiple methods to communicate, CART (voice to text), sign interpreters, transliterators (sign to voice), how she handles hospitalizations with her child admitted into pediatrics – communicating with medical professionals and parents with children admitted on her child’s floor – where once one hears there’s a deaf parent or deaf child in the ward, deaf and hearing children quickly sit together on one bed signing away, happy, content, communicating. Softly we giggled together.
A librarian soon hovered four steps away; I frowned at him.
Sonya stated her computer time was up; we had to “step away from the computer.”
We laughed softer, and I listened as Sonya shared specific needs.
In realtime, I was able to further digest, filter, network and share information to help with sign, deaf-blind and CART information, relevant facts – due to many blessings of this occupation and my passion.
I gave Sonya the name of Deaf Link, Inc. (They helped Texas Katrina evacuees with onsite, remote interpreting for six months) for her interpreting needs or possible future employment (herself Level 5).
I shared how I met a deaf PGA hotel employee in Phoenix now living here, working with Deaf Link, married to an employee within Deaf Link. Mike Houston, Deaf, is expanding his goal to open international children’s deaf golf camps.
Sonya giggled; she ‘got it’ (that instant deaf-connection).
I told Sonya about Frances Dobson within the United Kingdom who has the most accomplished resume and skills of anyone I’ve ever met with reporting and deaf-blind talents.
I shared articles I had written for my NCRA Journal of Court Reporting column.
Sonya asked if I would email all information to her home, so she could use assistive software, adding, “My daughter will be so excited! She loves computers, too!”
Then I commented about her ‘wrist holding the other wrist’ when she first spoke.
Sonya smiled, “Yes, I have to do that – otherwise I just sign.”
I nodded and thought about the court reporters who find fingers tapping on their lap or steering wheel. Together we stood within the library and giggled softly.
As I said good-bye to Sonya I knew this moment, with my new friend, would benefit both she and her deaf-blind daughter. I welcomed her to Texas. My father had his new library card; Sonya had new facts, information.
I am never, never surprised where or how our skills, knowledge of facts involving CART, sign language, deaf and deaf-blind information can open vast new paths for so many.
Leaving, Emmett quipped, “Well, just another typical day for you, right?”
We laughed, and I looked to Sonya – standing in the library alone, waving.
Eyes bright, her smile big, I signed my departing message to Sonya, so I would not disturb anyone within the San Antonio library on a Saturday afternoon.
Fate? Luck? Serendipity? Blessings? I know. Now you decide. You. Decide.
—- Monette, named the Court Reporting Whisperer by students, may be reached: Monette.purplebooks@CRRbooks.com
Purple Books – Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com * Advance skills, pass NCRA and State exams the 1st time
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal, CART Captioner, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
Since 1990: Multiple Title Author of Books & Purple Books Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART Captioning Profession
An American RealTime/Captioning Services, LLC: www.ARTCS.com Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RDR, or a State exam? More than once? Purple Books “Done in One” has a 98% successful pass rate on exams with sets as evidenced by thousands of students and professionals who pass their RPR, CSR, and RDR exams on the first test. Testimonials: www.CRRbooks.com.
Reach Your Goals: http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29 Where do you want to go? Specific custom-designed guidance will efficiently assist you!
About Monette Benoit: As a 30+ year court reporter, CART captioner, author of NCRA and State test-prep material, instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and 225-homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands challenges many adults face in our industry.
In 1993, she began to CART caption to a large screen for a Deaf mass, San Antonio, Texas. Wonderful opportunities then presented from Big D, Little D, Oral Deaf, HOH consumers -each with special moments.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART captioners, students, instructors. She has helped to create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is an informative, motivational, and funny blog for busy professionals and students who seek to create their success and who seek to enjoy this special path.
11 Apr 2020
Author: monette | Category: 95 % pass rate written exam, ADA, Advocate, ASL, Big D, Captioner, CART/captioning, Coaching, college CART, consultant, court reporter certification, Court Reporter Tutor, Deaf, Goal Setting, Hard of Hearing, HOH, HV with HCV, Kevin's Sister, Laney Fox, late deafened, Monette's Musings, Motivation, NCRA test prep, Oral Deaf, Real-Time, religious events, The Panama Story, The Texas Spy, Tutor, Tutoring | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
Laney’s Latin; Hearing Not Required, CART Captioning University Latin
~~ Originally published in my column “Beyond The Comfort Zone” within NCRA’s Journal of Court Reporting, JCR
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
Laney Fox and I became a team, in the trenches, during her first semester in Latin.
Previously, I wrote how I’m CARTing (communication access real-time translation), realtiming, her classes. I am a court reporter, instructor, author, and tutor translating verbatim voice-to-text upon request for Laney.
I’ve watched Laney blossom in Latin!
Her deafness may be viewed by others. Limitations may be viewed by others, but not to Laney. Her world is full of life and possibilities.
We hope our articles inspire others to step onto the branch, to feel the breeze – to create a new dream, to see it grow. Laney has a zest for life and has many dreams. Sharing her world and life, to help others, is important to her. As Laney repeatedly says (toes tapping), “I ‘want’ to help others. I really ‘want’ to help others.”
Laney was born healthy; she had her hearing. She became deaf approximately near 13 months old, possibly from a 24-hour virus/fever. They are not “entirely positive.”
Laney was mainstreamed into her first “hearing school” during fourth grade after nine years of oral education at C.I.C., Central Institute of the Deaf, in St. Louis.
Her parents relocated the family to Baltimore after a job promotion. “So it was decided that I remain in the C.I.C. dorms for another year to continue my education to speak,” says Laney. “However, I was not happy at the dorms. So I left to join my family. My parents told me that they decided to raise me orally first to see if this was the best method for me to grow up with. They said if I wasn’t happy being orally raised, they would have taken me out of C.I.C. and enrolled me in a signing school. My parents were not trying to make me ‘hearing,’ as some people assume. My parents just wanted to see what was the best way to go.”
“When they saw that I was living a happy childhood with many other children, they decided to continue with this method. They simply did not see the need to teach me sign language when they saw that I was doing well in school and sports.”
“I chose to learn sign language in my senior year of high school. I wanted to see what it was like to communicate through sign language.
My parents didn’t hold me back; they were totally supportive, but still to this day my parents don’t know sign language. This doesn’t bother me. It just allows me to participate in both worlds.”
“If I had a choice, I would have gone a slightly different way. I would have chosen to teach a deaf child sign language when the child is in middle school (after the language acquisition period closes … to ensure that the child’s speech doesn’t deteriorate) to allow the child to communicate the best way that a child can. At least the child would know how to communicate through the hearing world and the deaf world.”
“I think children should learn both ways for total communication. Parents should not let the child place more emphasis on sign language. Parents should work more on oral speaking throughout childhood. It’s important that children are able to speak, so they have a choice in their communication when they enter the real world.”
I asked Laney to describe her Latin experiences with a CART captioner. When I first appeared, Laney -had not received any notice from my Friday afternoon request to this Monday morning class – walked in, took one look at my equipment, stopped in her tracks.
“Let’s say I wasn’t expecting a captioner who was so dedicated to help me learn and ‘hear’ Latin,” Laney says.
“Some high school teachers knew that it was hard for me to understand them in lecture tone. When I was in high school, I took Latin for three years. But I always felt that I was missing out something (which I did because I failed the Latin placement test after three years of Latin!). I’d come into the class prepared with my version of the story and try to gather all corrections from other students. The teacher never corrected my versions.”
“However, I had many questions for the teacher after class. I think sometimes they were the same questions asked in class because he seemed frustrated when I kept asking questions about the translations or the lecture. I don’t think he ever truly understood my deafness. Anyway, I always depended on the students to tell me whether mine was right or wrong. In fact, I had a student, David; I would give him my translations. Then he would correct mine, and return my translations with all kinds of errors marked. He helped me for one year in (high school) Latin. I am grateful for his generosity.”
Laney had to deal with another problem. “I never heard the other students’ questions, translations or the professor’s corrections,” she explains.
“All of my learning relied on my own translations for three years. Throughout this time I didn’t know sign language; I didn’t have anyone to sign to me.”
“In my first semester at this university, Trinity, I’d write out translations before I went to class and have someone look over them. I was rather lucky in this class; there’s an excellent book that contains all the information lectured by the professor. I also had a notetaker, so I had more help than I was accustomed to.”
Laney was enrolled in Latin for two months before I was asked to CART (Communication Access Real Time Translation) caption for her (on a Friday afternoon) and give her a rough ASCII disk at the end of each class (beginning the following Monday morning).
The CART assistance has been a boon, per Laney and her instructor.
Laney says, “Now I enjoy class tremendously when we’re translating stories (instead of lecture days).”
“It’s more fun to watch Monette trying to get everything. When she can’t hear, she flaps her arms around. She also taps my shoulder to grab my attention for her corrections on her screen. I just love her energy to get me into class discussion.”
And when I could not hear, we changed rooms. And when the students could hear doors loudly squeaking, and I had to keep writing “doors squeaking,” the doors were oiled, per my request. The university, professor and students have all become part of this CART captioning team.
As I sweated and struggled to realtime Latin, I talked to Laney about my work, explained why ‘stuff’ popped up correctly – or not. Laney appreciated the information about my experiences in court reporting.
“I didn’t know what to really expect from a captioner. But when Monette Benoit told me that ‘all’ court reporters want to strive to be the best, I was very impressed. When she would get upset with the CART equipment, computer screen, at first I didn’t understand why she would get so frustrated.”
“I was so happy that I could at least have an idea of what everyone else was talking about. It didn’t matter whether you mistyped ‘declension’ or whatever. I now knew what was going on. I am entirely grateful for Monette’s help in showing the pronunciations of the words I was unfamiliar with.”
Laney is enrolled full-time at Trinity University and attends sign language classes once a week in the evening. She volunteers with Best Buddies (a program for people who are mentally retarded). “I just take my Best Buddy out to have some fun,” she says.
And what does Laney want to do with her life?
“My plans for the future are to become a veterinarian. I would love to be able to understand animals and be able to communicate with them. I am amazed how animals and humans can still communicate through body language, even without speaking. I would love to learn many more things about animals and perhaps help the world understand more about the animals we know so little about.”
So, do you want to help others?
Our wish is that you will want to help others – and yourself.
This is a great time to be a court reporter and work with deaf, hard-of-hearing people. Life is good! Hearing, sound, is not required to expand your life, to blossom and to grow. Just ask Laney Fox. She’d really like to “hear” from you.
Monette, named the Court Reporting Whisperer by students, may be reached: Monette.purplebooks@CRRbooks.com
Purple Books – Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com * Advance skills, pass NCRA and State exams the 1st time
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal, CART Captioner, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
Since 1990: Multiple Title Author of Books & Purple Books Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART Captioning Profession
An American RealTime/Captioning Services, LLC: www.ARTCS.com Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RDR, or a State exam? More than once? Purple Books “Done in One” has a 98% successful pass rate on exams with sets as evidenced by thousands of students and professionals who pass their RPR, CSR, and RDR exams on the first test. Testimonials: www.CRRbooks.com.
Reach Your Goals: http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29 Where do you want to go? Specific custom-designed guidance will efficiently assist you!
About Monette Benoit: As a 30+ year court reporter, CART captioner, author of NCRA and State test-prep material, instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and 225-homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands challenges many adults face in our industry.
In 1993, she began to CART caption to a large screen for a Deaf mass, San Antonio, Texas. Wonderful opportunities then presented from Big D, Little D, Oral Deaf, HOH consumers -each with special moments.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART captioners, students, instructors. She has helped to create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is an informative, motivational, and funny blog for busy professionals and students who seek to create their success and who seek to enjoy this special path.
30 Mar 2020
Author: monette | Category: ADA, ASL, Big D, Captioner, Career Advancement, CART FAQ, CART provider, CART/captioning, Certify NCRA RPR Test Prep, Coach, Coaching, consultant, court reporter certification, Court Reporter Tutor, Court reporting students, court reporting test prep, Deaf, Goal Setting, Hard of Hearing, HCV, HOH, home-study, HV with HCV, Interpreter, late deafened, Life Coach, Management, Motivation, NCRA, Oral Deaf, pass tests, RDR CSR CCR, Real-Time, religious events, Remote Interpreting, RID Sign Interpreter, SHHH, Sign Interpreters, The Panama Story, time managment, Tutoring, WKT prep, Written Exam | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
She Never Speaks; She Spoke To You; Why Can’t She Just Learn English? She’s ‘only’ Deaf
~~ Originally published in my column “Beyond The Comfort Zone” within NCRA’s Journal of Court Reporting, JCR
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
One morning in June, I got an early start. The store was near empty. I had me a 2007 Christmas gift certificate. My mission: new dish towels. I went to the kitchen area. This was easier than I thought.
Avoiding clearance racks, I saw the perfect T-shirt on a shelf. I debated — must I? Ahead of schedule I stepped to my left just to look. I spotted a woman who had her head down and was folding a mountain of clothes scattered over a metal table. And I’m talking marine-inspection folding.
The woman looked up; I smiled politely. She nodded and continued folding. I paused long and deliberately before I decided to see if she was the person I thought she might be.
With one motion I made a gesture that often -only Deaf recognize. (It works very well, folks, Big D.) She tilted her head and smiled. Then her eyes sparkled. She did a small dance, head down, hands high in the air, before launching herself over that table to me.
I have not seen Stephie in ten years. Stephie is deaf, lives within the Big D-Deaf world.
I shook out my hands, signing, “Need put down purse. Signing rusty.” Placing my purse, towels on the table, planting my feet on the floor, standing tall, shoulders back, I began to (silently) talk with Stephie.
When I paused to sign or fingerspell, she signed with me, waiting while I struggled or correcting me (so very nice) as needed. This woman, who does not speak, began to laugh. Signing, she began to voice (words) and have sudden outbursts of sounds (words).
As I turned, I spotted employees watching. Customers approached, smiled at me (but not us), and then turned away. I asked Stephie if she might get in trouble for speaking to me. She laughed, “Nope.”
I asked if anyone in the store spoke or signed to her. “No,” she replied.
I asked how she communicates with her co-workers. Only her manager does – and only as needed. Then he ‘writes’ details on a small pad. I asked how she communicates with customers.
Stephie said that she tries to help, but “customers turn away, not responding.”
I winced. But Stephie beamed, stroking my face and hand, “I found you!”
In my rush that morning, I did not put on my wedding ring. She knows my husband from the years he was my “roadie” (his term) every Sunday when I CARTed to St. Frances Di Paola’s large screen for the Deaf mass. Stephie reached for my ringless hand, holding my ringless finger.
She shrugged and with hands in the air, she voiced loudly, “Sorry. It happens.”
I doubled over with laughter. Stephie then voiced, “Oops.”
This Deaf community is tight. When a hearing person is embraced into the Deaf world, it is an honor. In 1993, an elder within the Deaf community, gifted me with a sign name and named me “Our Token Hearing Girl” sharing my CART skills, learning from their culture. Oh, we have funny moments and memories.
Our conversation lasted 20 minutes. Now I was late. We exchanged information.
I signed, “Late. Must go.” She understood. Good-bye lasted 10 minutes with hugs, she touching my arm, my hand.
One employee who watched Stephie and I pointed to her register. I’m still holding only dish towels. Easy, right?
Anna looks like Priscilla Presley, early 1960s. She takes my towels and said, “She spoke to you.”
I blinked and looked at her hair and eye makeup.
Anna, “She spoke to you.”
I smiled, “We’re old friends.”
Anna paused, then leaned on her register, “She spoke to you. I heard her. She said words ‘to’ you.”
I smiled, “Stephie’s deaf. She communicates with sign language. How much do I owe?”
Anna, “She never speaks; she spoke to you. I don’t understand her. I’d like to …”
I almost put my forehead on that register counter. I’m thinking, “Please, God, don’t let this be a mini-deaf sensitivity seminar. I need to head to my office. I have court reporters and court reporting students confirmed for tutoring this morning and afternoon. Peter Rabbit here must run.”
Anna whispered, “You spoke to her. She understood you. She ‘heard’ you. How does that happen?”
I exhaled slowly without sighing. I looked to the people behind me and asked, “Anyone in a hurry?”
Each person (a first) shook their head.
Customers replied, “I have all the time in the world.”
“I’ve always wanted to learn about sign language — those deaf mutes.”
When I looked up — as I knew would be — Stephie watched, head down. She understood. I made eye contact with Stephie and smiled.
I slowly began my mini-seminar. “Stephie is an intelligent woman to work in a place where no one speaks her language – or will try.”
Anna asked, “But why do her words come up in wrong places?”
Me, “Well, Anna, her language ASL, American Sign Language, is a conceptual language created by hearing people long ago in France.”
Anna, “Why can’t she read lips? She stays to herself. She seems nice.”
I asked, “Has anyone here ever sat with her in the break room?” Anna shook her head. “Stephie wants to communicate,” I said.
Anna earnestly, “But sometimes her words don’t sound like English, yet you understood what she was saying. I watched. You two had a real conversation. Some words are louder than they should be. Can’t she just learn English?”
I winced. Calmly, I took a deep breath, shared tips about Big D, Deaf, sign language. “Stephie does know English. Her first language is ASL.”
Placing my towels in a store bag, I asked for the total. Customers leaned forward to listen when Anna whispered, “I wish I was brave enough to do what you did with her.”
Slowly counting to myself, I softly replied, “Start with one word. When you see her on break, coming into work or leaving, start with one word.”
I showed Anna several signs (and a few funny slang signs) to encourage and motivate her. I added, “And it’s fun.”
Anna finally totaled those dang towels and said, “Thank you for helping deaf people and for taking time to help us – who wish we could understand them.”
Me, “But you can.”
Anna, “No, no, I wish I could, but I can’t. Thank you for helping me and for helping us to understand.”
With one quick, shy motion, Anna raced around the counter and hugged me. Then she sprinted back to her register. Customers then thanked me “for helping those people.” I avoided sighing.
I closed the seminar, “Deaf have a wonderful culture with a beautiful language. We must learn from each other.”
I slowly looked down the aisle; I knew she was watching. Stephie nodded. She understood. I signed good-bye to Anna. Overhand I signed (the personal) “I love you” to Stephie. I took my towels and departed with my head down. I wondered what I could have or should have said to her coworkers to have had a more positive result.
Then a large UPS truck flew past me. Stopping on a dime, the driver leaned out the doorless truck and waved overhand. I blinked. Last year, he was stung by a bee at his previous delivery. He’s allergic to bees. After I signed for my delivery I treated his neck ‘timing’ to see if his bee reaction would need hospitalization.
While watching this UPS shorts-wearing dude with dark eyeglasses, energetically waving overhand to me, I thought about Anna and how wonderful it was to have found Stephie. I thanked God for life’s grand memory-moments.
Then like the little Peter Rabbit, this bunny went back to her world – thankful for Stephie’s friendship and her laughter that morning.
I phoned the sign interpreter Stephie requested, sharing Stephie’s message.
My friend howled with laughter, “Dish towels with a 2007 Christmas certificate? Oh, Monette, you need to shop for better things. What ya doing tomorrow? Let’s meet there, see Stephie. Let’s go have us some real fun over there.”
Perhaps we did; perhaps we did. Stephie and I wish Happy Holidays to each of you and your families.
—-Monette, named the Court Reporting Whisperer by students, may be reached: Monette.purplebooks@CRRbooks.com
Purple Books – Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com * Advance skills, pass NCRA and State exams the 1st time
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal, CART Captioner, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
Since 1990: Multiple Title Author of Books & Purple Books Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART Captioning Profession
An American RealTime/Captioning Services, LLC: www.ARTCS.com Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RDR, or a State exam? More than once? Purple Books “Done in One” has a 98% successful pass rate on exams with sets as evidenced by thousands of students and professionals who pass their RPR, CSR, and RDR exams on the first test. Testimonials: www.CRRbooks.com.
Reach Your Goals: http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29 Where do you want to go? Specific custom-designed guidance will efficiently assist you!
About Monette Benoit: As a 30+ year court reporter, CART captioner, author of NCRA and State test-prep material, instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and 225-homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands challenges many adults face in our industry.
In 1993, she began to CART caption to a large screen for a Deaf mass, San Antonio, Texas. Wonderful opportunities then presented from Big D, Little D, Oral Deaf, HOH consumers -each with special moments.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART captioners, students, instructors. She has helped to create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is an informative, motivational, and funny blog for busy professionals and students who seek to create their success and who seek to enjoy this special path.
18 Mar 2020
Author: monette | Category: CART/captioning, Coach, Court Reporter Tutor, HLAA, HOH, Monette Benoit, NCRA test prep, SHHH
“Accepting Lessons, Teaching Lessons, And Seeking Challenges To Be The Best I Can Be” – CART Captioning
~~ Originally published in my column “Beyond The Comfort Zone” within NCRA’s Journal of Court Reporting, JCR
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
Court reporting has professionals who truly rise to challenges. In 1995, after CART captioning the national SHHH, Self-Help For Hard of Hearing, (now HLAA, Hearing Loss Association of America) convention with Deanna Baker and CART providers, my path changed. A doctor insisted on a procedure, which I postponed until after SHHH. (Then the doctor said she would close her office to take me by the hand if I did not go. Thus, I prepped.) I was adamant about details since I was scheduled to caption and CART caption an international convention with 28,000 teenagers for multiple days. Wakening in recovery, my world shook.
Head down, I phoned the person who scheduled my work. Humbly, I was clear that I needed help. He listened, replying, “Let me spin some plates in the air.”
Seeking assistance, I contacted professionals locally, then around the U.S. When Carol’s name was shared I phoned her home. Confidentially, I shared my situation.
We agreed that since I was a religious realtime court reporter I would caption/CART biblical classes and sermons. Carol would caption/CART performances and skits.
Carol arrived first-class. (All coach seats were booked.) When I could not find her in the airport, I had her paged. With gratitude I introduced myself to the smiling woman with her steno machine and tripod inside a beach bag. Immediately we focused to become a team serving others to accomplish this first-time event.
I desire to share Carol’s world. Carol Hill Williams, RPR, RMR, CRR, CMRS, CRI, CPE, is an inspiration, a true professional. Oh, we have the funniest memories. When I sought needed help, Carol accepted a new challenge.
Together we were unstoppable and delivered needed ‘words’ for deaf, HOH (hard of hearing), and legally blind who watched our open captions.
Carol: I love court reporting. In 1978 my mother told me about her jury service, and the person with the little machine. School was my first challenge. I learned to practice, finishing in two years.
How we made money then I will never know. We had no computers. We had an electric typewriter, electric note-puller, Dictaphone, carbons. After lining up papers, if you made errors, you yanked all papers out, started all over. If you weren’t typing your transcripts, you dictated or hired a scopist. My first computer was $20,000 – edit station only. We worked until 5 or 6 a.m., slept little.
I have a strong faith. God teaches me lessons for areas I am weak, surrounding me with people to help me. Initially, I worked for a wonderful woman, Jeanne Wiley of Cook & Wiley. Jeanne, having been president of Virginia’s association, encouraged reporters to achieve certifications, to get involved in state associations.
We need to become active in state associations. You meet court reporters, exchange ideas, associations grow. I worked as editor, secretary, treasurer, vice president, then Virginia president.
I passed my RPR and RMR. After two NCRA CRR attempts, I learned about beta blockers. With a prescription, gushing water from my palms and forehead subdued, I passed. Later I passed the CMRS and CPE.
I love challenges. I still break into a sweat and pace the floor until I arrive. My confidence has increased. I love being a freelancer: every day is different, every place is different, everybody has a story. Life is different faces with different stories, different speeds. I’ve also learned not to worry what tomorrow may bring. The more focused we are in the present moment, the more we appreciate what today is about.
In 1995 I was flown to San Antonio to work alongside Monette Benoit to provide captioning and CART for an international religious teen convention filling the Alamodome. I learned how to quickly add theological entries for instant translation.
I have always been a freelance writer, so 4 to 5 p.m. is the bewitching hour; your fate is sealed for the next day. You may be called to realtime an accident depo or weeks-on-end realtime trial with translators and expedited delivery.
I’ve had my own firm. It takes a lot to keep eccentric people happy. I also learned my values are not necessarily someone else’s values. Focusing on providing the best service I can is what really matters.
After two years in my business and both parents passing away, I needed a change. I wanted to move to a litigious city, one with beautiful weather, palm trees.
I moved to Miami five years ago – knowing no one. I searched for a firm that shared my values. I have been working for Tom Kresse of Kresse & Associates since. It’s a wonderful feeling to work for someone with a stellar reputation, who acknowledges hard work and goes to bat for the reporters.
Consumed with never having enough work, I balanced work and a healthy lifestyle. Then I visited South Beach wearing a one-piece suit, wraparound skirt, weighing 190 pounds. In an awakening moment, viewing women clad in less than almost nothing, I realized I had come to a fork in the road of my life; I had to change directions. The week after South Beach I found a gym. I laboriously dedicated myself to a rigorous exercise regimen, following a nutritionist’s diet.
After three years, I lost 50 pounds. My trainer’s wife asked if I would like to walk or run a 5 K, 3.1 miles. I decided to challenge myself. After the gun went off, I ran – finding a new love of life.
God puts the right people in my life at the right time. I found a running group I run with several times a week and lost 65 pounds. January 2008 I turned 50; I completed my first marathon, 26.2 miles.
Upon completion, I wanted another challenge. Athletes gather to compete in triathlons. My initial reaction was no way could I accomplish this feat, nor risk getting injured. After contemplation, I decided to try it.
I am blessed to have a four-time Olympic inline skater coach, KC Boutiette. He taught me how to swim and bike, run efficiently and how to push yourself out of my comfort zone.
This year I challenged myself. I completed two marathons, Miami and Chicago, a 120-mile running relay, Hood to Coast in Oregon, three sprint triathlons: .47-mile swim, 12.4 bike and 3.1 run; and an international triathlon: .6-mile swim, 26 bike, and 6.2 run. Next year I am slated to do two marathons, sprint triathlons, two half Ironmans, 1.2-mile swim, 56 bike and 13.2 run. And now I am a leader to new runners prepping each for their first marathon.
What have I learned through this madness?
Any goal is obtainable with the right training, dedication. My compulsiveness for never having enough work has never changed; I learned a balance is what really brings happiness.
I never would have made it without my Christian faith and letting those around me give me encouragement. I believe we have to share what we have been so graciously given. Even though what you may be facing seems like a giant obstacle, this too shall pass, and you will have grown even stronger because of it.
Instead of focusing on how I possibly can do what seems impossible, I focus on what I am doing now to become the best I can.
Monette: Often we are challenged, learning lessons.
Then we are blessed to meet new professionals, new life-friends. I continue to thank you, Carol, for ‘Stepping Into The Light’ in 1995 accepting new lessons, seeking challenges to be the best you (we) can be. Carol may be reached: chwmiami@bellsouth.net
Monette, named the Court Reporting Whisperer by students, may be reached: Monette.purplebooks@CRRbooks.com
Purple Books – Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com * Advance skills, pass NCRA and State exams the 1st time
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal, CART Captioner, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
Since 1990: Multiple Title Author of Books & Purple Books Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART Captioning Profession
An American RealTime/Captioning Services, LLC: www.ARTCS.com Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RDR, or a State exam? More than once? Purple Books “Done in One” has a 98% successful pass rate on exams with sets as evidenced by thousands of students and professionals who pass their RPR, CSR, and RDR exams on the first test. Testimonials: www.CRRbooks.com.
Reach Your Goals: http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29 Where do you want to go? Specific custom-designed guidance will efficiently assist you!
About Monette Benoit: As a 30+ year court reporter, CART captioner, author of NCRA and State test-prep material, instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and 225-homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands challenges many adults face in our industry.
In 1993, she began to CART caption to a large screen for a Deaf mass, San Antonio, Texas. Wonderful opportunities then presented from Big D, Little D, Oral Deaf, HOH consumers -each with special moments.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART captioners, students, instructors. She has helped to create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is an informative, motivational, and funny blog for busy professionals and students who seek to create their success and who seek to enjoy this special path.
19 Feb 2020
Author: monette | Category: "WKT", 98% First-Time Pass Rate With Core Strength-Building, CART/captioning, college CART, consultant, court reporter certification, court reporter test prep, Court Reporter Tutor, court reporting tests, home-study, NCRA prep, NCRA RPR Test Prep WKT skills RMR RDR CSR CCR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Available from Purple Books, CRRbooks.com, November 2017: new 7th edition textbook with the only updated NCRA, National Court Reporters Association, and State WKT, written knowledge test, information for students and court reporters.
CRRbooks.com by Monette Benoit: Complete Written Knowledge Test Textbook, Seventh Edition, Revised and Updated for NCRA’s RPR, RDR, and State CSRs with the NCRA CRC Primer.
Tests change. Exam questions and multiple choices are not repeated. Plus, exam fees are pricey.
Updated, expanded text chapters: Test-Taking Tips, Focus; Legal, Latin Terminology; Court Reporting Rules; English, Grammar, Vocabulary, Misused Words, Definitions; Medical Information; Computer Terminology, Technology, CRC Prep, Ethics, Windows, NCRA COPE Advisory Opinions; Review
98% successful ‘Done In One’ pass rate continues on NCRA’s RPR, RDR, and State CSR WKT material when Purple Books study sets are a primary source. Plus, you join thousands of students and court reporters who earned their RPR, CSR, and the elite RDR certification with Purple Books test-prep.
Study the only textbook and textbook package for the RPR, CSRs, and NCRA’s RDR written exam.
With thorough prep, you will pass the first time by learning how to answer, how to take the test.
Purple Books are written by a court reporter, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, paralegal, with an educator who earned a B.S. in English and a M. Ed.
Since 1990, time-tested, proven in the classroom with educators and with independent study —
students and court reporters continue to write “best investment — ever.”
- Plus, 7th edition textbook includes the CRC, Certified Realtime Captioner, Primer because many reporters now provide CART captioning, and certifications are now requested by companies, consumers for their files.
RPR, RDR, and state CSR candidates focus on the popular “Complete Test Prep Set” that includes: the Textbook, Workbook (*2,002 practice questions), Companion Guide (cross-references every word in the workbook’s 2,002 multiple-choice questions), and RealTime Vocabulary Workbook.
Complete Set includes 4 test-prep books: http://crrbooks.com/product/written-exams
Pedagogically sound, each book reviews and covers material with facts, tips, and information.
Purple Books maximize your time, your expenses, and your results!
Students and professionals also seek tutoring and career counseling with Monette Benoit, named the Court Reporting Whisperer by students. No two people are alike. Customized sessions are created. Start today.
Plan and prepare now. Monette is committed to helping you. Email: Monette.purplebooks@CRRbooks.com
‘Done In One’ Testimonials, Pricing online: www.CRRbooks.com
22 Nov 2017
Author: monette | Category: 98% First-Time Pass Rate With Core Strength-Building, Career Advancement, Coaching, consultant, court reporter certification, Court Reporter Tutor, Court Reporting Whisperer, Monette Benoit, www.CRRbooks.com | Tags: "CSR", "The Purple Books", 98% Success Rate With the "Complete Set"; Done In One with NCRA's RPR, and State CSRs, Court reporting tutor and coach for students and working court reporters, Court Reporting Whisperer, Monette Benoit, RDR, Test Prep with Core Strength-Building, www.crrbooks.com, www.monettebenoit.com, “NCRA WKT”
‘Push-Ups Focus’ on the “Complete Set” and “Trio Set” for NCRA’s RPR, RDR, and State CSRs. Why Push-Ups?
Push-ups work the entire body and support core strength.
The “Purple Books” strengthen and build core support with detailed structure that has been proven in the classroom and independent study for 25 years.
98% first-time pass rates for NCRA RPR, RDR, and State CSR exams with test-prep material that covers full pages of information. ~~Full Pages = Full Focus. ~~
Working to the same goal, students, novice and veteran reporters benefit from building full, core support with the “Purple Books” from www.CRRbooks.com
Only Test Once! ~~BE DONE IN ONE for NCRA’s RPR, RDR, and State CSRs.
Look at what we offer: www.CRRbooks.com – “Purple Books” detailed material, cross-referencing, terms, topics.
Structured prep material that improves skills. Test-Taking Tips; Legal, Latin, and Court Terminology; Court Reporting Rules; English and Grammar; Frequently Misspelled Words; Grammar Glossary; Frequently Misused Words, Definitions; Medical Prefixes, Suffixes, Fractures, Definitions; Computer Terminology, Technology, NCRA COPE Advisory Opinions; More.
My ‘push-up’ is to continue to help YOU! Online testimonials are included by leaders, teachers, reporters, students …Bring it. ~
Please share this announcement with students, teachers, court reporters, and ‘like’ our FB page, Court Reporter Reference Books, RPR, RDR, CSR, Tutoring, Career Counseling.
Monette, named the Court Reporting Whisperer by students, may be reached: Monette.purplebooks@CRRbooks.com
Purple Books – Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com * Advance skills, pass NCRA and State exams the 1st time
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal, CART Captioner, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
Since 1990: Multiple Title Author of Books & Purple Books Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART Captioning Profession
An American RealTime/Captioning Services, LLC: www.ARTCS.com Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RDR, or a State exam? More than once? Purple Books “Done in One” has a 98% successful pass rate on exams with sets as evidenced by thousands of students and professionals who pass their RPR, CSR, and RDR exams on the first test. Testimonials: www.CRRbooks.com.
Reach Your Goals: http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29 Where do you want to go? Specific custom-designed guidance will efficiently assist you!
About Monette Benoit: As a 30+ year court reporter, CART captioner, author of NCRA and State test-prep material, instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and 225-homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands challenges many adults face in our industry.
In 1993, she began to CART caption to a large screen for a Deaf mass, San Antonio, Texas. Wonderful opportunities then presented from Big D, Little D, Oral Deaf, HOH consumers -each with special moments.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART captioners, students, instructors. She has helped to create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is an informative, motivational, and funny blog for busy professionals and students who seek to create their success and who seek to enjoy this special path.
01 Jun 2016
Author: monette | Category: 95 % pass rate written exam, CART provider, Coaching, Court Reporter Tutor, Court Reporting Whisperer, Goal Setting, HCV, home-study, Kevin's Sister, Monette Benoit, NCRA RPR Test Prep, NCRA test prep, time managment, Tutor & Empowerment Coach, www.CRRbooks.com
Thumb Wrestling and Smoken; Ask The Coach, Part III of III
By Monette Benoit
All Rights Reserved.
Part I began: Did you know there is a Thumb Wrestling Federation, TWF, and the United Kingdom has World Thumb Wrestling Championships? This is serious business for a sport originally called “thumb-a-war.”
How does this relate to court reporters, CART – Communication Access Realtime Translation – providers, broadcast captioners, and students? …
Years ago, I wrote “CART FAQ, Falling On Deaf Ears” a series of articles posted on my blog, Monette’s Musings, and online by NCRA.
I have CARTed college-level Latin for an oral deaf honors student. I did not know Latin. I stroked sounds, which tranned, translated, as Latin.
I spent many years CARTing church services to a large screen for a Catholic mass devoted to people who are Deaf. A sign interpreter was always present, and we worked side by side.
Additionally, I have CARTed funeral services, baptisms, retirement parties, large conventions, technical meetings, medical events, Quinceanera celebrations, the McGruff Dog, puppets, a mime (yes, a deaf mime), plays, musicals, clairvoyants, Girl Scout groups, Knights of Columbus, and multiple intimate settings.
Part II began: My thumb wrestling referral above was for the moments when I work with students and professionals who tell me
“I was not able to find my thumbs today.”
Yes, we have a few days like that. If you are outside our profession and are reading this, I want you to know that those
moments are rare. Truly.
While tutoring and coaching students and veteran reporters who are seeking to meet new goals and to create a higher skill set I listen to people share their private moments when fingers just do not go where they “should go.” In short, it happens.
My initial thumb wrestling comment was shared within a tutor/coach setting with an experienced judicial reporter preparing for
advanced NCRA certification. It was said in jest; we both laughed.
Soon, someone called my office for “certifying test prep material.”
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs, www.CRRbooks.com, has a 95 % success pass for candidates testing the first time with our test prep material.
Quickly, I learned that this request for “test prep” had nothing to do with court reporting or with any legal field.
When I stated that I was not able to help him, he began to tell me about his work, his stresses, his frustrations, his needs.
Not wanting to be rude, and needing to create a boundary after I stated multiple times, “I do not have access to the material
you are seeking,” I was brought to his reality when he exhaled, “I just feel like I’m all thumbs. I need to smoke that test. I mean, when I start something I approach it with smoken attitude.”
I sat in my chair staring at the ceiling, hands folded in my lap, waiting for the moment to politely end the call as he picked up speed and energy.
When he referred to “thumbs” and “smoken,” I shared about thumb wresting.
The man said, “I love that! And while I have you, I have always wanted to know how that funny, little back machine works. Did you know it has no letters on the black keys?”
I did not sigh, groan, or exhale.
“Really? I’ll have to research that,” I said softly.
He did not sigh, groan, or exhale.
“You know this. You just want to get off the phone, right?” he said.
“That’s accurate,” I replied.
Then we had us a long silence.
He broke our silence: “Well, since I’m all thumbs, and you do not have anything to help me, I’m going to look into the thumb
wrestling, so when I’m prepared for my test, I’ll smoke my test. And I’ll probably phone you again for tutoring and coaching.
You’ve already helped me, and God knows that I will need more help! I need a life coach now.”
Thumb wrestling, our steno machine, our exacting work, clients and consumers, test prep material, people outside our
profession, all thumbs, advancing credentials, setting new goals, advancing skills, private tutoring, life coaching, and smoken.
In short, there we have it. The end.
Part I of III is posted March 17, 2014, Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted April 11, 2014, Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted April 29, 2014, Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Life Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam? Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment life coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment life coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment life coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book,
and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering
in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Life Coaching http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private life coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced
professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek
to create their success each day.
29 Apr 2014
Author: monette | Category: 95 % pass rate written exam, Advocate, captioning dictionary, Career Advancement, CART/captioning, Coach, Coaching, consultant, Court Reporter Tutor, Court Reporting Accuracy, Court reporting students, Court reporting tutor, Goal Setting, HCV, HLAA, home-study, Kevin Drue Donnelly, Oral Deaf, pass tests, Real-Time, religious events, technology, Test Prep, time managment, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
Spurt-Ability, Part III of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
Part I began: While coaching a novice court reporter, the professional said, “I don’t like to take tests. That’s why I went to court reporting school.”
I said softly, “Now that’s a thing of beauty.” He sincerely replied, “It’s true.” I truly replied, “You will read about this. Trust me.”
How does that happen?
Part II began: When I taught, I shared this spurt-focus with students. Many, many students took to it like a hummingbird to a red feeder. They liked it (my tutoring and coaching students like it, too). Really.
When I began to realtime and CART to a large screen, I had to focus on the spurts, the spurt-ability…
Part III: A spurt is a small marathon with yourself.
A spurt is similar to a sprinter on the track.
A spurt is similar to a pole vaulter. (more…)
28 Feb 2014
Author: monette | Category: 95 % pass rate written exam, Career Advancement, CART provider, Coaching, consultant, court reporter test prep, Court Reporter Tutor, Court reporting students, court reporting test prep, Court Reporting Whisperer, CSR RPR, Goal Setting, HCV, HV with HCV, Life Coach, Students, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
Fears, Toughest Part Is Words, Spot On, and Our Normal, Part II of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
Part I began: One student, in the 225 wpm (words per minute) exit room in a court reporting program, “is scared to death of passing the state certification test and national certification. Then people will see that I can’t write accurately! I changed almost everything in my theory to brief forms, one strokes, to pass my tests. I was told to do this to advance in my speed classes. Everyone is doing this! I read through all my errors on each test! I passed each speed by being lucky, remembering what was said in the 5-minute test, and by hearing a test that I had heard before …. And I learned a good realtime theory! … Help me.”
A nationally certified court reporter now providing CART, Communication Access Realtime Translation …
Part II of III:
Softly, I replied, “Perhaps you do not want to swan dive into the mind games.”
As the holidays approach I want to softly suggest that you can create new opportunities with small steps to energize your focus.
We each can evolve to a better “spot” when we choose opportunities or when we are given ultimatums, yes?
Perhaps there has never been a better time to expand your skills.
Spot on, yes?
Or perhaps you believe there has to be a “secret sauce” to reaching your goal, your desired result.
Where do you want to be in three months? Three weeks? Tomorrow at 3:00?
Yet you know that once you reach your goal your tenacity will instantly focus on the creation of the next hurdle (we often use that word) and then on to the next challenge.
We are not individuals who “rest on laurels…” (See my July 2010 article “Resting on Laurels” posted on www.monettebenoit.com and published in my column “Beyond The Comfort Zone” within the Journal of Court Reporting, JCR.)
Our “normal” is setting goals and expanding our world with new skills. This is our normal. We do this every day. Sometimes we do this realtiming word by word. Fact.
Why am I writing about this now? I want you to know that you are not alone. Fact.
Attorneys are requesting more and expecting more. Consumers and audiences want more, too.
The awareness for unprecedented access by the public to an instant record from court reporters, broadcast captioners, and CART providers has astoundingly changed our profession.
We are taught realtime theories, working with wonderful CAT, computer assisted translation, software on powerful computers with computerized steno writers that have transformed our schools, our training, and our work. Fact.
Perhaps the key to expanding and to growing our skill-set as a student, as a court reporter, instructor, CART provider, and captioner is to know that our journey is dedicated to a gateway wherein we preserve the instant spoken word. How you interact with the gateway, with your expectations, may be a matter of simply refocusing your focus.
Part I of III is posted November 14, 2013, www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted December 5, 2013, www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted December 20, 2013, www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Career Coach,
Multiple-Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting and CART Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
“Get ‘eR Done in Just One” – as evidenced by the many students and professionals who study Court Reporter Reference Books to pass their RPR, CSR, and RDR exams on the first test. Testimonials are online — from students, instructors, program directors, CART Captioners, novice and senior court reporters, www.CRRbooks.com.
** Pedagogically sound, covering a wealth of material with facts, tips, and comprehensive information, the Purple Books from CRRbooks.com are time-tested and proven in the classroom with educators and with independent study.
The “Complete NCRA RPR, RDR, and CSR Test Prep Textbook, 6th Edition” has greatly expanded testing tips, testing focus, NCRA COPE Ethics, grammar sections, plus — legal, Latin, court, English, grammar, vocabulary, medical, technology and computer chapters. www.CRRbooks.com
The Workbook contains **2,002 practice test questions; the Companion Study Guide cross-references every word in the workbook’s 2,002 multiple-choice text practice questions.
The “Full Test Prep Set” and “Trio Test Prep” – each listed on www.CRRbooks.com
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and career coaching? Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Tutoring and career coaching topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and career coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, create new possibilities, advance their career, author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exams and for their career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART Captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Career Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? ** What have you ‘really’ wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
* No two are alike. Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART Captioner, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART Captioners, students, and instructors.
She has also helped to create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day. Reach up. Bring it. * Bring it today!
05 Dec 2013
Author: monette | Category: Captain Kevin Drue Donnelly, CART provider, Coaching, consultant, court reporter test prep, Court Reporter Tutor, Court reporting students, Court Reporting Whisperer, HCV, Life Coach, Monette's Musings, Students, The Panama Story, Tutor & Empowerment Coach, Uncategorized, Written Knowledge Test
Fears, Toughest Part Is Words, Spot On, and Our Normal, Part I of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
Part I of III:
One student, in the 225 wpm (words per minute) exit room in a court reporting program, “is scared to death of passing the state certification test and national certification. Then people will see that I can’t write accurately! I changed almost everything in my theory to brief forms, one strokes, to pass my tests. I was told to do this to advance in my speed classes. Everyone is doing this!
“I read through all my errors on each test! I passed each speed by being lucky, remembering what was said in the 5-minute test, and by hearing a test that I had heard before …. And I learned a good realtime theory! Now I am scared that an employer will see all the mistakes that I am making. I cannot realtime! Not at all as I read through the errors. My dictionary is so messed up with the entries I added and changed. This was just to pass tests! I had to do this to be able to stay in the school and not have my student loans called in. Now what do I do? Who will hire someone who cannot realtime? Help me.”
Another student in the 180 wpm class “recently enrolled in the 100 wpm class to learn how to really write and how to pass tests. I had to go to the owner of the school to do this. The school was not happy. Other students became upset, too, as they are having big problems, too. And my family is not happy! Yet I know what I have to do to be able to read my notes. My theory is a compilation of theories in a notebook given to me by the school, and I have no dictionary!” the student shared. “Where do I start to finish?”
A nationally certified court reporter now providing CART, Communication Access Realtime Translation, “may soon be replaced by a summary service, like Typewell, not a verbatim record. What do I do now? I worked evenings and weekends to assist everyone for years and years. What do I do now?”
Another certified court reporter requested tutoring as she is teaching herself a new theory, teaching herself how to CART, and how to caption while reporting during the day and while teaching in the evening. “I have to do this or I will be replaced …”
One court reporter, now in court, was recently called into the manager’s office while reporting a jury trial and told “you must become certified asap or you will lose your job.” The reporter then asked me, “I’ll have to join NCRA, National Court Reporters Association, to get my certs now, right? Can you help me asap?”
I listen to each with respect. Each person has unique challenges.
Each person has, in my professional opinion, unique opportunities to excel in the direction which will serve their immediate goals and their long-term goals.
Each person serves our profession – as working professionals, as instructors guiding our wonderful profession, and as students seeking to graduate.
Many students privately share with me, “I need to earn the big bucks to pay off my massive student loans. Some students owe over $ 30,000. I know people who owe well over $ 40,000 and stay in school just so their loans won’t be called in. Then we pay thousands more per semester, and we are not passing tests!”
One of my favorite sentences was voiced by a professional sharing “professional” frustrations, after receiving NCRA results. The judicial court reporter said, “The toughest part is the words. It’s that simple, Monette.”
This is the same court reporter who while working to pass the national RPR, Register Professional Reporter, then the CCP, Certified CART Provider, and then CRR, Certified Realtime Reporter, asked me each time as we worked together, “What should I work on? Should I just read Webster’s dictionary?”
The reporter wrote recently, “Thanks for my Buck-Up Speech each time. I needed that. I know I passed each test. Yet it really wasn’t as bad as I tried to make it out each time after working with you. Now what should I work toward? What is next on my list, Monette?”
I know this court reporter likes a busy plate. Do you?
One student wrote, “I am writing cleaner. I feel a pass coming soon. I shouldn’t be focusing on what other everyone else is doing, right? When someone passes a test in my class sometimes I get mad at them. They are not working as hard as I am – I think. Then I am upset with myself for thinking that. Like you say, it’s all about me, right? Focus on me.” That week this student passed her two certifying exit speed tests.
Working with another student, the student said, “Wow, Monette, you sure took the saddle off that elephant, and I now have to choose a better path, right?”
Part I of III is posted November 14, 2013, www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted December 5, 2013, www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted December 20, 2013, www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Career Coach,
Multiple-Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting and CART Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
- Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
“Done in Just One” – as evidenced by the many students and professionals who study Court Reporter Reference Books to pass their RPR, CSR, and RDR exams on the first test. Testimonials are online — from students, instructors, program directors, CART Captioners, novice and senior court reporters, www.CRRbooks.com.
** Pedagogically sound, covering a wealth of material with facts, tips, and comprehensive information, the Purple Books from CRRbooks.com are time-tested and proven in the classroom with educators and with independent study.
The “Complete NCRA RPR, RDR, and CSR Test Prep Textbook, 7th Edition” has greatly expanded testing tips, testing focus, NCRA COPE Ethics, grammar sections, plus — legal, Latin, court, English, grammar, vocabulary, medical, technology and computer chapters. www.CRRbooks.com
The Workbook contains **2,002 practice test questions; the Companion Study Guide cross-references every word in the workbook’s 2,002 multiple-choice text practice questions.
The “Complete Prep Set” and “Trio Test Prep” – each listed on www.CRRbooks.com
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and career coaching? Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Tutoring and career coaching topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and career coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, create new possibilities, advance their career, author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exams and for their career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART Captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Career Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? ** What have you ‘really’ wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
- No two are alike. Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART Captioner, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART Captioners, students, and instructors.
She has also helped to create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day. Reach up. Bring it. * Bring it today!
14 Nov 2013
Author: monette | Category: Captain Kevin Drue Donnelly, Career Advancement, Coach, consultant, court reporter certification, Court Reporter Tutor, Court Reporting Whisperer, Goal Setting, Hard of Hearing, HCV, HOH, Life Coach, NCRA Test Prep WKT, Uncategorized | Tags: "The Road Not Taken", ADA, Hard of Hearing, Medicare, MRSA
The Final Frontier: Nolo Contendere, Guilty, Part II of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
September 16, 2013
Part I began: Court reporters are a disciplined breed. This is reinforced as I move through my professional and personal world.
“The final frontier” is a metaphor. I was encouraged to write this as I trolled this topic past professionals, court reporters, broadcast captioners, CART providers, instructors, and students that I am tutoring and coaching. Guilty.
Court reporters listen with laser focus. I have listened to individuals, doctors, speak – a lot.
When specialists have finished long sentences, often I am asked “Have any questions?”
Often, I shake my head.
When I am asked why I don’t have any questions I have replied, “The good news is that the patient does not have the diagnosis that you thought was causing the problem. The bad news is that you don’t know what’s causing the problem.”
Not often, the specialist asks, “How’d you do that?”
Rarely, will I share, “Degree in listening.”
Often, I reply, “I listened.”
Part II of II:
… When the ambulance arrived, Mom, on oxygen and hooked up to multiple machines, was crying. I needed to sign documents, “Hurry,” they said. Head down, I read the first paragraph. The first reaction I hear over and over and over? Deep sighs. Then I heard, “Just sign it. It’s important.”
I read until I saw “Patient Arrested.” I pointed to the line. Ambulance EMTs who were gowned for isolation with gloves and masks, and nurses in the room, abruptly inhaled.
Me: “Arrested? Define, please.” An EMT: “We’re in a hurry.”
Me: “No can do. Court reporter. Only time I see word ‘arrested,’ is with work. ‘Patient arrested’ … Not signing until defined.”
EMT: “Your mother arrested on the table. You’re not supposed to know. We’re not allowed to tell you. You need to sign. We must transport now; she needs isolation.” (Code for: “Hospital discharge policy was at 5:00 today, and it’s past 5:00 now.)
My court reporter discipline, in my opinion, appeared again. Guilty.
I will not be hurried when asked to sign documents. I quietly insist on reading every line. Though I wanted to toss their clipboard against the wall, I sat tall, silently, slowly, counting Mississippi-s until everyone was uncomfortable in the room.
Then I said, “Patient arrested? Yet I am not to be told, correct?”
“Yes. We have standby personnel due to her arrest, yet we could get sued for telling you.”
I did sign – after I read every line. No, they would not give me copies.
The final frontier involves deciding when to let others do their job and to stay on the sidelines, when to step forward.
I now listen to doctors discuss an eval; then I write three words.
Many ask, “Why only that?” looking to my notes.
I softly say, “Data driven.”
Thus far, that stumps everyone working to blow out of the room onto their next patient. Guilty.
Data driven. I listen to “we need to up meds” or “we need to wing-down.”
Watching professionals take Mom’s blood pressure the past few weeks I have again viewed the final frontier.
During symptom spikes, doctors do not return calls and nurses are in “report.” Serious side effects mean “it’s being monitored, and we’ll tell the next shift.”
Like many freelance and judicial court reporters, I have marked a lot of exhibits.
Details are important, yes? I have found multiple incorrect confidential documents for other patients, outdated and incorrect lab reports. I am not stunned anymore. I simply hold up the document(s) – which I was encouraged not to take the time to read. Guilty.
Due to multiple problems, recently I phoned a cardiologist for an outside visit after I watched professionals take Mom’s blood pressure. During the incident that created my call to the cardiologist, Mom’s BP reached 186/90, and a white-coat wearing specialist giggled, “Oh, she’s just upset.” In realtime, my focus shifted with my mother’s diagnosed afib and current diagnoses.
Reactions were swift once I phoned the cardiologist. Mountains were moved well under 24 hours. People were not happy. Oh well. Guilty.
Perhaps the D.O.N., Director of Nursing, phoned, “Perhaps you’re not satisfied with our care here.”
Perhaps I only listened. (Often I choose when to “word” engage. I chose not here. That call told me more about them than me.)
The final frontier. Nurses and staff now tell me, “You really do want to help your mother.” I avoid replying “gah” and am convinced it is our discipline. Guilty.
Court reporters are disciplined from school, each job, each event, and with each application with our skills.
Yet ask a medical person who is working with other medical people for a straight answer – and I am astonished to hear, “Just trust me – you need to sign this.” No.
The final frontier. Multiple individuals whisper, “You’re a textbook problem.”
Me, “How so?”
Patients with family who ask questions and want answers are called problems. “And you do want your questions answered. You listen and listen and listen while they talk themselves blue.” Guilty.
I remain stunned that medical professionals have said, “You help me to do a better job. Most people are too busy to ask questions. And it takes time to answer you. Yet your mother is alive because a family member picked up symptoms, behavior, and patterns quicker than staff.” Guilty.
The final frontier involves so many court reporters, CART providers, captioners, and students who share that they will not sign anything without reading every line, too. They insist on a copy of everything they sign, too. When they read documents to sign, everyone in the room sighs – while they calmly read, too. Discipline, yes. Guilty.
A high-profile official court reporter. “I took three hours to read mortgage papers. I took five hours signing a 15-year mortgage. When I bought a car on 24 installments, the dealer closed at 8 p.m. I left at 9:30 p.m. It drives my family crazy.” Nolo contendere.
We are not rattled when we are asking for information at work or at home, regarding a family member and advancing our skills. We listen.
We have no shortcuts to listening.
Part I of III is posted September 5, 2013, www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted September 16, 2013, www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted September 27, 2013, www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
16 Sep 2013
Author: monette | Category: ADA, Advocate, Big D, Captain Kevin Drue Donnelly, Career Advancement, CART provider, CART/captioning, Court Reporter Tutor, court reporting test prep, Court Reporting Whisperer, CRRbooks.com, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, HCV, HOH, late deafened, Life Coach, Monette's Musings, NCRA WKT, Real-Time, SHHH, technology, Tutor & Empowerment Coach | Tags: AGB Association, Glaucoma, Hard of Hearing Adults and Children, Hearing Loss, HLA, HOH, Titanium Tympanoplasty
Titanium Technology and Glaucoma Effects, Part III of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
August 11, 2013
Part I and II began: The nurse, RN, was speaking to me about my mother’s recent ICU, intensive care unit, discharge when overhead speakers broadcast a doctor’s page. He cupped one hand over the back of each ear. I watched, sans comment.
I am witnessing many medical professionals with hearing loss…
He said softly, “Don’t tell anyone. I have hearing loss.”
I nodded, “I see that you have coping skills to assist you.”
“You noticed?” he replied. Me, “Yes, sir. Due to my work.”
Mom tells everyone, every shift, “My daughter is a court reporter, a teacher, and she’s an author …”
I was prepared to not pursue this topic. However, I find 99 percent of people who have hearing loss do want to detail their world with me. I listen, humbled, learning from each.
He said, “Most people don’t notice. My wife’s worse! She’s the one I worry about. I’ll tell you tomorrow, okay?” I nodded.
We returned to our task – “required gowning with gloves and mask in the hall before entering.”
He asked how I was familiar with hearing loss. I shared “court reporter, CART provider, captioner, consultant.”
This nurse said, “My wife and children have serious issues. I just have hearing loss. But I know what I want before I lose my hearing.”
“My wife has glaucoma. When she was a teen she took glaucoma medicine to decrease her eye pressure. The medicine also decreases inner ear pressure and damages nerves. Her hearing loss now is from medicine long ago. What’s worse than that?”
“Each generation then has hearing loss from the parent’s medicine.”
My eyes were as big as saucers as I listened to this man talk about the glaucoma medicine and generational effects.
He summed it up, “Tomorrow I’ll tell you what I want. I probably won’t get it. Yet I have to have hopes. Right?”
The next day, this nurse sprang from his chair as I entered to visit Mom isolated with MRSA, pseudomonosis, and additional ICU sterile lung bacteria.
“I’ve been waiting for you. I told my wife about you and court reporters. We know all about your work. We thank you and your profession for helping us. Once I tell you what I really want, could you tell me how to help my 12-year old?” I nodded.
I whipped out my iPad, asked permission to write notes.
He said, “Sure! Let’s go look at the latest and greatest. It’s not well known, but it could be once the price comes down. And with glaucoma patients and their children’s children – and their children – they’re all going to need your help.”
Part III of III
Since English is each son’s first language I shared about the Alexander Graham Bell Association. I shared AGB techniques. Children work with balloons voicing sounds. Balloons bounce and have specific reactions to vocal sounds and exhalations of breath. Older children (and adults) often work with lit candles. If the flame is extinguished, the exhalation was not appropriate for that sound.
“Fascinating!,” he said.
Now he took notes saying, “My wife insisted I ask you. Insisted!”
I detailed the Hearing Loss Association, HLA, and other groups. I shared that each association has chapters; chapters are wonderful resources for children and adults.
We shared information each time I visited Mom. The nurse expressed his gratitude for being able to share his dreams, his hopes with me, and said each time, “I have to help my wife and children before I help myself. It’s the right thing to do. I know my time is limited here on the floor.”
Looking left and right, he said, “I have problems with phones when there are overhead announcements. External noises are hard to work around. Yet I know if I get that titanium device before I have another hearing drop, I’ll be able to hear. I do not have the absolute fear of going blind and also losing my hearing. That is the fear, you know.”
I softly replied, “Yes, I know the deep fear for many deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals is to lose vision.”
This nurse truly enjoyed helping me learn about glaucoma patients who will then pass their decreased hearing down to their children – and then to their children.
He exacted a promise that I share. (Mom also told him I would write an article …)
He shook my hand, “Great! Now if I can get that electronic stethoscope – that’s what I call it – I can help others. I’ll do my darndest to help my family, myself, and to help others. Good deal, right?”
“And you promise to write about this? (I nodded.) Maybe I’ll get my titanium surgery when others know how important this is. And my wife and children need help, too. You promise?”
“Yes, dear,” I softly replied.
Then he quoted, verbatim, a lengthy Monty Python skit (with accents). The nurse bowed, “We’ve walked barbed wire fences together you and me.”
He sprinted down the hall.
Again, I was tired, cold, and hungry. I was charmed by this man’s energy, his hopes, and his goals. Mom’s overhead light went off (in isolation – not many rush to her room). And I headed back in to help Mom.
Suddenly, the gentleman called my name.
He put his hand over his heart and paused.
Watching him, slowly, I placed my hand over my heart.
Slowly, we nodded once in unison together, and exacted a moment together, bonding my promise to him.
And now I fulfill my promise sharing with each of you – together. We are together.
Part I is posted July 11, 2013, www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II is posted July 28, 2013, www.monettebenoit.com
Part III is posted August 11, 2013, www.monettebenoit.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
11 Aug 2013
Author: monette | Category: "WKT", 95 % pass rate written exam, Captain Kevin Donnelly, captioning prep, CART/captioning, Certify NCRA RPR WKT skills RMR RDR, Coach, Court Reporter Tutor, Court reporting students, Court Reporting Whisperer, Goal Setting, HCV, hepatitis C, Life Coach, Management, Monette Benoit, Test Prep, Tutor, Tutor & Empowerment Coach, Tutoring, WKT prep, www.CRRbooks.com | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
Exactly Why Am I Doing This Now? Part III of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
May 24, 2013
Part I began: The requested tutor and empowerment coaching appointment began with a simple question.
My question to the court reporter was simply, “How are you?”
Part II began: We agreed to assess goals that had been met as a student and to evaluate where she is now as a certified court reporter.
The court reporter then said (I have permission to share) “When I was going to school then, I was not putting in as much as I should have. Then working with you, I decided I could do this – I really could do this. I decided to not do this and to not do that, but to really do this and to not make excuses. That was how I came a long way. I focused as you advised.”
Thus, we spent our time working together constructively, realistically focusing.
Part III: Instead of focusing on the loud voice in her head, we focused on the tasks that would realistically work with her present schedule and her goals now. Today.
Her question “exactly why am I doing this now?” remained with me after we scheduled updates and ended our time together.
This very question itself, in my opinion, will give you freedom.
Have you asked yourself this question and identified what is important?
Have you asked yourself this question on a good day – and not when events are comedy for Saturday Night Live?
I believe this is an excellent question. We take risks when we ask the question, “Why?”
Together we focused on the nutrition for the goals.
The court reporter and I made a conscious choice to create strength with training while working.
What I heard the court reporter say – and what was identified later by her words – were her fears. I heard, “I am afraid …” Her true fears were shared “straight up.”
Yes, I could hear fear in her voice, as well as the frustration.
I could hear fear as very real facts were shared by this working reporter.
When she was a court reporting student, she fear identified, too. Together we addressed the fears then.
Together we walked straight into her fears now.
Fear can be a motivator – if we are moving away from fears or toward goals.
I believe that we are imprinted with past moments.
My opinion is that any professional training that requires excellent daily standards as we learn a new language and begin to build technical skills will create survival skills that any TV reality show would ever understand.
Instead of “You’re Fired,” our TV show could be called “You Passed! You’re Hired!”
We are not cast on an island to fend for ourselves alone, though it may sure feel close to that.
Individuals outside our profession are often stunned to learn that pass rates on tests in our court reporting speedbuilding classes require a 95 to “pass” up to the higher speed.
A grade of 94 is not a passing grade in court reporting school within a 60- to 225-word per minute speed class. (I used to complain to my parents, each educators, “94 is a failing grade!” Mom and Dad, would smile, “You’re the one who chose the court reporting schooling and the NCRA-approved training, yes?” I would sigh, “Yes, but – ”)
We need a minimum of two tests (some schools require three tests) at 95 before we “pass” to the next speed.
Yes, we are challenged to always strive for perfection… in school, and then on the job. Always.
Having attended court reporting school myself when (it seemed like) every day was “you didn’t pass this one” as the (speed test) papers were handed back to students. To me, these were moments that could weaken individuals outside of our field.
I still refer to my court reporting schooling as “walking barefoot on broken glass.” Really. Good glass.
Exactly why are you doing this now? Is it your passion? Is it your desire to help others in court, depositions, captioning TV and/or providing CART? This is just a sampling where we know our skills are now valued and appreciated.
Do you have a vision where you want to go? Are you there now? Do you have support for your choices now? Have you met individuals who are fun and are proof to the fact that students and working court reporters do tweak their skills, do advance goals and do not let daily fears guide them?
Are you worried about others who may judge you on your choices? I have asked this question and listened to very private opinions.
I have also heard individuals say, “Nah, I just want to stay employed and pay my bills, okay?” Got it.
Perhaps asking the “exactly why am I doing this now” question is the healthiest step forward. My opinion is that by going within to ask the questions that are creating the fears is a good, healthy step.
Court reporters do not let the tail wag the dog.
Seeking success we define exactly why we are doing this now.
Part I of III is posted May 1, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted May 15, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
24 May 2013
Author: monette | Category: "WKT", 95 % pass rate written exam, Captain Kevin Donnelly, Captain Kevin Drue Donnelly, CART/captioning, Certify NCRA RPR Test Prep, Coach, Coaching, court reporter certification, court reporter test prep, Court Reporter Tutor, Court reporting students, court reporting test prep, Court Reporting Whisperer, CRRbooks.com, Goal Setting, HCV, hepatitis C, home-study, Kevin Drue Donnelly, Life Coach, Management, Monette Benoit, Monette's Mindful Management, Monette's Musings, Monnie Floyd, NCRA Court Reporters, NCRA WKT, RPR Test WKT, Sign Interpreters, Test Prep, The Panama Story, Tutor, Tutor & Empowerment Coach, Tutoring, WKT prep, Written Exam, Written Knowledge Test, www.CRRbooks.com
Exactly Why Am I Doing This Now? Part II of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
May 15, 2013
The requested tutor and empowerment coaching appointment began with a simple question.
My question to the court reporter was simply, “How are you?”
There was a loud sigh. The answer began, “I am so tired of …” I watched the clock. How long? Over five minutes. I did not peep one word as I listened. After a noticeable silence, the court reporter asked me what I was thinking.
Soflty, I said, “Wow, that was almost a five-minute literary test. Now please tell me what you really think.” She howled with laughter.
Ah, court reporters and court reporting students.
When someone asks us what we think, and the question is posed by someone (my opinion here) related to our field, we can really let the words fly, yes? Yes.
Now that the energy had been expelled in a healthy manner – and we were clear that we would focus together – we began an open dialog for the goals.
We agreed to assess goals that had been met as a student and to evaluate where she is now as a certified court reporter.
The court reporter then said (I have permission to share) “When I was going to school then, I was not putting in as much as I should have. Then working with you, I decided I could do this – I really could do this. I decided to not do this and to not do that, but to really do this and to not make excuses. That was how I came a long way. I focused as you advised.”
Thus, we spent our time working together constructively, realistically focusing.
Instead of focusing on the loud voice in her head, we focused on the tasks that would realistically work with her present schedule and her goals now. Today.
Her question “exactly why am I doing this now?” remained with me after we scheduled updates and ended our time together.
This very question itself, in my opinion, will give you freedom.
Have you asked yourself this question and identified what is important?
Have you asked yourself this question on a good day – and not when events are comedy for Saturday Night Live?
I believe this is an excellent question. We take risks when we ask the question, “Why?”
Together we focused on the nutrition for the goals.
The court reporter and I made a conscious choice to create strength with training while working.
What I heard the court reporter say – and what was identified later by her words – were her fears. I heard, “I am afraid …” Her true fears were shared “straight up.”
Yes, I could hear fear in her voice, as well as the frustration.
Part I of III is posted May 1, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted May 24, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
15 May 2013
Author: monette | Category: "WKT", 95 % pass rate written exam, Adolphus Floyd, Advocate, ASL, Captain Kevin Donnelly, Captain Kevin Drue Donnelly, Captioner, captioning, captioning dictionary, captioning prep, Career Advancement, CART FAQ, CART provider, CART/captioning, Certify NCRA RPR Test Prep, Certify NCRA RPR Test Prep WKT skills RMR RDR CSR CCR, Certify NCRA RPR WKT skills RMR RDR, Coach, Coaching, college CART, consultant, court reporter certification, court reporter test prep, Court Reporter Tutor, Court Reporting Accuracy, Court reporting students, court reporting test prep, court reporting tests, Court Reporting Whisperer, CRRbooks.com, CSR RPR, Dolphin Ward Floyd, Goal Setting, Hard of Hearing, HCV, Hep C, hepatitis C, Hepatitis Researcher, HOH, home-study, HV with HCV, Interpreter, Kevin Donnelly, Kevin Drue Donnelly, Kevin's Sister, Life Coach, Management, Monette Benoit, Monette's Mindful Management, Monette's Musings, Monnie Floyd, Motivation, NCRA, NCRA Court Reporters, NCRA prep, NCRA RPR Test Prep, NCRA RPR Test Prep WKT skills RMR RDR CSR CCR, NCRA test prep, NCRA Test Prep WKT, NCRA WKT, Oral Deaf, pass tests, pass WKT, Prep Court Reporting, Prep Court Reporting Tests, RDR CSR CCR, Real-Time, Real-Time Rules, realtime dictionary, RMR RDR CSR CCR, RPR Test Prep, RPR Test WKT, Sign Interpreters, technology, Test Prep, The Panama Story, time managment, Try Harder; Each Time You Try Harder, Tutor, Tutor & Empowerment Coach, Tutoring, Veterans, Veterans Helping Veterans, vets and families, webcasting, WKT prep, Written Exam, Written Knowledge Test, written test, www.CRRbooks.com, “Did I help You?” Chief Reporter | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
Exactly Why Am I Doing This Now? Part I of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
May 1, 2013
The requested tutor and empowerment coaching appointment began with a simple question.
My question to the court reporter was simply, “How are you?”
There was a loud sigh. The answer began, “I am so tired of …” I watched the clock. How long? Over five minutes. I did not peep one word as I listened. After a noticeable silence, the court reporter asked me what I was thinking.
Soflty, I said, “Wow, that was almost a five-minute literary test. Now please tell me what you really think.” She howled with laughter.
Ah, court reporters and court reporting students.
When someone asks us what we think, and the question is posed by someone (my opinion here) related to our field, we can really let the words fly, yes? Yes.
This individual and I have worked together in the past. She emailed with a question requesting numerous sessions.
Again, I found it interesting that the tenacity and goals that were set by this person while enrolled in court reporting school (her words) “who would never make it out of school fast enough” were now similar to today’s scheduled session.
“I’m not going to spend another dime to improve my skills when I have paid so much to get where I am.” (I remained silent.)
“I know people can do what I am trying to do now. If they can do it, why can’t I? I want – No, I need to earn more money. I didn’t go to court reporting school to be at the bottom of a seniority list with working court reporters after this period of time, did I?” (I remained silent.)
The sentence I truly enjoyed (professionally and personally here), “I’ll just get there and take it from there when I do get there, okay?”
I listened to this gainfully employed court reporter.
“The support on my software is about to expire. I have to pay for that, too. And the support on my new writer is about to expire. More money there! All that adds up to a lot of money and it is due very, very soon!”
The reporter summed it up, “I just am wondering exactly why I am doing this now …”
And there we had it. The dancing zebra in the room was bowing and exiting.
Now that the energy had been expelled in a healthy manner – and we were clear that we would focus together – we began an open dialog for the goals.
Part II of III is posted May 15, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted May 24, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
01 May 2013
Author: monette | Category: ADA, Advocate, ASL, Big D, Captain Kevin Drue Donnelly, CART provider, CART/captioning, Coach, Coaching, consultant, court reporter test prep, Court Reporter Tutor, court reporting test prep, court reporting tests, Court Reporting Whisperer, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, HCV, hepatitis C, HLAA, HOH, home-study, HV with HCV, Interpreter, Management, Monette Benoit, Monette's Musings, NCRA, Oral Deaf, Remote Interpreting, RID Sign Interpreter, SHHH, Sign Interpreters, technology, Test Prep, The Panama Story, Tutor & Empowerment Coach, Uncategorized, Written Knowledge Test, www.CRRbooks.com | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
How’d That Happen? And Real-Time Captioners, Part III of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
April 2013
Part I began: As we listen, as we scan and troll, now and then a moment may stop us in our tracks. Each track depends on where we are at that moment. Each track when viewed over one’s shoulder, as hindsight, may appear to be very different.
And this is why I am still tilting my head asking “How’d that happen?”
Recently a mail list shared by court reporters, captioners, CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) providers, instructors, and students, someone posted a link “Appendix A, Hourly Pay for Real-Time Captioners.” Levels were identified with hourly rates. Each level states, “a minimum captioning speed of … and recommendation by the Director.” Appendix A ends: …
Part II began: Yet I know in 1993 when I began to CART in San Antonio, Texas, the sign interpreters negotiated (they used that word) for me “since you arrive with all your equipment and work solo.”
Back then there was no word for CART.
Part III: We became a team, all working together. Why? To provide the best service we could together is my humble reply. And we have had a lot of fun in “our” trench together, and the interpreters continue to be my friends and my advocates.
They tease me that that the only equipment they purchase is the one-color outfit. (Interpreters usually wear one color, so individuals needing their skills watch hand motions and facial expressions without distractions of colors and designs.)
And they teased me, “You? George Carlin has a routine about packing, then packing with less to then pack with less. Have you heard Carlin’s routine?” Their teasing was not mean spirited. Oh, I listened.
I listened to their teasing, their wisdom, their teaching how I should structure my rates. They taught me when there was no one to ask.
Remote interpreting has changed their world, even as it has changed for CART providers.
Now we are where are. We knew then that the MTV generation would change the world. We knew then that cochlear implants would change their world. We knew then that our technology “captioning without video” (as many referenced CART after my work) would change the world.
Now we have the ability to look over our shoulders and to reflect from whence we have come, where we are now, and where we seek to direct our paths.
Yet I am still pondering, how is it that a college posted qualifications and rates for “Real-Time Captioners” that might stun many who completed court reporting school and purchased equipment to provide this CART service?
I also wonder too, if hourly rates will decrease the way broadcast captioning rates did years ago?
Once the requested lower fee was met, there was a free-fall as contracts were pulled. Rates fell astoundingly until a new low was met. (Rates have since fallen.)
Sign interpreters who learned about the decrease(s) – when our equipment costs to provide services was well documented as not for the faint of heart – were amazed. They murmured to me, “And with your expenses …”
Frequently, I softly asked my friends, “How much – you two now?”
I learn(ed) two interpreters often working 20 minutes each reflects higher than my amount.
Then I am softly reminded, “And our clock starts when we leave home – with mileage. Have you ever thought about sign interpreting? It pays better.”
September 2012, I wrote in my JCR (Journal of Court Reporting) column “Beyond The Comfort Zone,” and blog “Monette’s Musings,” the article “You All Start In CART Now, Right?” That was almost six months before reading about the college’s requirements. Will we ask ”Disabled Students Programs and Services” we are being justly compensated for the skill set and for the equipment we provide, alone, hour after hour?
Working to preserve the record – wordsmiths that we are – we rise to each request. Thus, looking ahead and not over my shoulder working yet another late evening, I have to ask, “How’d that happen?”
Part I of III is posted April 7, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted April 11, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted April 27, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
27 Apr 2013
Author: monette | Category: ADA, Advocate, Captain Kevin Drue Donnelly, CART FAQ, CART provider, Coaching, consultant, court reporter certification, court reporter test prep, Court Reporter Tutor, Court Reporting Accuracy, court reporting test prep, Court reporting tutor, Court Reporting Whisperer, CSR RPR, Deaf, Dolphin Ward Floyd, Goal Setting, Hard of Hearing, HCV, hepatitis C, HOH, home-study, HV with HCV, Interpreter, Kevin Donnelly, late deafened, Life Coach, Monette Benoit, Monette's Musings, Monnie Floyd, NCRA, NCRA test prep, Oral Deaf, RDR CSR CCR, Remote Interpreting, Sign Interpreters, technology, Test Prep, The Panama Story, Tutor & Empowerment Coach, www.CRRbooks.com | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
Game-Changer … Will He Make It?, Part III of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
March 2013
Part I began: During an errand to a home improvement center, I witnessed a “game-changing moment,” in my opinion. It unfolded before my ears – and my eyes. Then I was gifted with an opportunity.
I needed a tool. I walked with purpose. After seeing me repeatedly strolling the same aisle, an employee asked me what I was seeking.
He said, “That’s not here! It’s the only tool in our department that’s way, way over there!” I asked for the aisle number. He said, “Follow me.” He was accurate with “follow me.”
We briskly strolled from one end of the large store to the other. I followed; he walked three steps ahead of me.
That was when I noticed a frowning employee approaching in a sprint, lips pursed. I stepped back. Yet my radar was up; I thought I saw it. I watched the frowning employee’s intense focus.
The frowning employee never took his eyes off the young employee’s face who responded, speaking into the air away from the frowning man.
Part II began: The employee shrugged. Then that dude increased his walk until he was two steps in front of me.
I touched his right arm, startling him.
I asked if he knew the employee that he had assisted. “Nope. Started today. He’s just some new guy. Okay?”
I believe I smiled for the first time. To his back I said, “He is deaf. And he is way smarter than you.”
This news brought the employee to an abrupt stop. He stopped so suddenly that I almost walked smack into his back. Stunned, he made eye contact.
Part III: His eyes were soft. He stood only inches away from me when he softly asked, “What does he need?” He had stopped touching his store beeper. He removed the earpod within each ear. (That was when I knew I had his attention.)
I shared, “I have worked with and have been embraced by deaf adults and deaf children. He will need someone he can trust – especially if this is his first day, and there is no one to help him.”
The employee smiled. “I will keep an eye out for him today. That’s not my area. It’s way over there. I’m supposed to stay way over here.”
Then he said the words that meant much to me. This young man who had been so rude to me said, “Thank you. I never would have known. No one here knows. Thank you for taking your time to share with me.”
I asked what the probationary period is for new employees. (Court reporter focus here.) When he shared, “30 days,” I nodded and turned to walk away.
From behind he touched my right arm. When I turned back to him, he extended his right hand. I respectfully shook his hand. We closed the deal.
Recently, I was in the same store and saw an employee I have known for years. I strolled up, “I need to ask you something.” We both looked left and right – for supervisors.
I asked, “Just over a month ago I was in here, and it was the first day for a deaf employee. Do you know the man?” I did not wince; I waited while he thought.
Then he said, “Yes! I know the man. Do you need something from him? I can help you.” I paused – before I asked, “If I need something from him – I could have him help me? Yes?” (My code for “Does he still work here?”)
The man said, “Today’s his day off. What do you need?”
Softly I said, “I have what I need now. Thank you.”
What opportunity was I gifted with as I wrote at the beginning of my article here?
Ah, grasshoppers: quietly advocating to someone who could (then would) make a difference in a person’s new job. In so doing, that person then stepped ‘up’ the center to now become an advocate for others.
Moments unfold into experiences. Experiences then become game-changers.
My opinion is that I viewed a game-changing moment to quietly, respectfully advocate (in a home improvement center). That advocating assisted another person to assist a new employee to “make it on the job.”
You, too, have these moments. Of this I am sure. Indeed you do. Game-changing moments.
Part I of III is posted March 2, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted March 17, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted March 29, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
29 Mar 2013
Author: monette | Category: Coaching, consultant, Court Reporter Tutor, Court Reporting Whisperer, HCV, home-study, HV with HCV, Kevin Drue Donnelly, Life Coach, Monette Benoit, Monette's Musings, Monnie Floyd, NCRA Court Reporters, NCRA prep, NCRA test prep, pass tests, The Panama Story, Tutor & Empowerment Coach, Uncategorized | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
An Alpha State of Mind, Part III of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
January 28, 2013
Part III of III: When the work ended I was surprised how many people stayed to elaborate on the discussion. Again, what I thought to be a “normal day at the office” became a targeted focus – perhaps not in their alpha state as they packed their items to depart – a focus upon which the individuals stated they have thoroughly studied and is a topic routinely shared within their world. I nodded and listened there, too.
Ever the student here (daughter of two instructors), I continued to think (and think and think) about the discussion.
That night while working I listened to individuals who stated with emphasis and great frustration, “I cannot – cannot – write and listen at the same time! You ‘have’ to stop talking, so we can all write what you are saying!” This comment was also repeated by multiple individuals.
No one was able to see the small smile on my face as I focused upon our well-honed court reporting listening and writing skills. We are not trained to ask people to stop talking so we can write unless it is for clarification or devoted to our work, yes?
My signs typically arrive ‘quickly’ in threes. Perhaps that’s part of my “alpha state of mind.”
Yes, there was a third discussion the next day, which related to our skills. In a very personal setting, someone stated two “serious” short sentences. I giggled.
As others quickly looked to me with their eyebrows at uneven “levels,” I said softly, “Prefix, root word, suffix. Three languages always processing in my brain cell (sic). Those words together were funny – to me.”
The adults laughed, and asked, “That’s a court reporting thing, right?” I slowly nodded, and thought about the alpha state, the ‘not being able to write and listen comments’ from the night before, and this processing of three languages at all times.
I truly believe that our profession has the greatest training for individuals who are testing and for court reporters in our daily work who swiftly produce the transcripts, captioners who instantly caption historical events, and professionals who promptly CART the countless requested assignments.
Due to the alpha memory moments gifted to me, I believe we are alpha experts while working and while listening in our private world – perhaps working and living with beta level individuals around us.
We focus with laser abilities to instantly type the correct stroke, to fingerspell, to produce the exact word, and to produce the exact realtime product, the verbatim transcript, and to complete the test as requested.
“Always alert, always aware, always listening.” I believe they were speaking not only to me that day. They were speaking to my profession and to those of you who are working to advance your skills. They were also speaking to the students now working to enter this great field.
An alpha state of mind is a good place to start 2013, yes?
Part I of III is posted January 3, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted January 14, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted January 28, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
28 Jan 2013
Author: monette | Category: "WKT", Captain Kevin Drue Donnelly, CART provider, Coaching, consultant, court reporter certification, court reporter test prep, Court Reporter Tutor, Court Reporting Whisperer, Dolphin Ward Floyd, HCV, hepatitis C, home-study, Kevin Drue Donnelly, Life Coach, Management, Monette Benoit, Monette's Musings, Motivation, NCRA test prep, Real-Time, The Panama Story, Tutor, Uncategorized, Written Exam | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
An Alpha State of Mind, Part II of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
January 14, 2013
Part I of III began: Did you know that while your brain is in the alpha state that your muscles, nervous system, and cells have a different pulse per second?
Scientists have discovered that brain waves within the alpha state function at a different level of consciousness, perhaps half the normal rate. Did you know that?
Many of us do know that the alpha state is a “level” people seek while praying and meditating. Children who are taught how to reach alpha levels during chemotherapy have different (good) results while receiving medical treatment. Biofeedback teaches this information, too.
Beta is defined as the “level” needed to function while we are awake. Beta incorporates our five senses. Beta levels may have brain pulses which fluctuate 15 to 20 pulses per second.
A good night’s sleep requires the alpha level. Again, pulses in the brain define alpha.
Part II of III: I blinked hard, froze, and looked to the other individuals in the room. I did not reply and remained in court reporter and CART provider mode.
The professional said very slowly and with authority, “She is able to enter the alpha state quicker than other people, and while she is awake – quickly. This is her work. This is what enables her to do the excellent quality of work she is providing. She is able to focus, to focus quickly. It is her training that provides entering the alpha stage so rapidly from beta. Her alpha has been perfected – perfected – to enable her to provide her work. Other people typically remain in the beta level while they work and as they go about their day. She is in the alpha state right now, entering it easily and leaving it easily. See?”
The conversation continued verbatim, “She’s doing her work from a different place of consciousness. You (spoken to me) move quickly from beta to alpha – with alpha brain waves, which you’d have to have to have a very, very finely tuned brain working, and to be in the alpha state, very alert, very aware, listening – taking it all in. When she’s doing this type of work it is similar to meditation, to going inward.”
Everyone laughed at my non-response. I simply tilted my head, remained silent.
Yet my memory-moment (my term) caused me to leave my “alpha state of mind” and to have the three-ring circus instantly enter my head while I was working. You know the three-ring circus, yes? We have the circus parading as we realtime our work, as we listen, as we think about the grocery list, and as we wonder when the next break, the next recess, the next commercial will begin, yes?
The alpha state is just a portion of the skills, my opinion, that enables me, and I believe enables court reporters, CART providers, captioners, and students in the saddle who also focus with deep, daily “taking it all in intent.”
As my three-ring circus continued, the job continued. Individuals then discussed my breathing, my focus. I thanked the Lord it was a moment when I was not sighing, was not rolling my shoulders, was not stretching or wiggling. My stomach was not growling for food, my shoulders were not hunched up with one shoulder raised more than the other.
Part I of III is posted January 3, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted January 14, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted January 28, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
14 Jan 2013
Author: monette | Category: "WKT", 95 % pass rate written exam, Captain Kevin Donnelly, Certify NCRA RPR Test Prep, Coach, Coaching, consultant, court reporter certification, court reporter test prep, Court Reporter Tutor, Court reporting students, court reporting test prep, court reporting tests, Court reporting tutor, Court Reporting Whisperer, CRRbooks.com, Goal Setting, HCV, hepatitis C, home-study, HV with HCV, Kevin Drue Donnelly, Management, Monette Benoit, Monette's Musings, Monnie Floyd, NCRA Court Reporters, NCRA RPR Test Prep, NCRA test prep, pass tests, Prep Court Reporting, Real-Time, Sign Interpreters, Uncategorized, WKT prep, Written Exam, Written Knowledge Test, www.CRRbooks.com | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
An Alpha State of Mind, Part I of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
January 3, 2013
Part I of III: Did you know that while your brain is in the alpha state that your muscles, nervous system, and cells have a different pulse per second?
Scientists have discovered that brain waves within the alpha state function at a different level of consciousness, perhaps half the normal rate. Did you know that?
Many of us do know that the alpha state is a “level” people seek while praying and meditating. Children who are taught how to reach alpha levels during chemotherapy have different (good) results while receiving medical treatment. Biofeedback teaches this information, too.
Beta is defined as the “level” needed to function while we are awake. Beta incorporates our five senses. Beta levels may have brain pulses which fluctuate 15 to 20 pulses per second.
A good night’s sleep requires the alpha level. Again, pulses in the brain define alpha.
Alpha levels are approximately seven to fourteen pulses per second. Individuals have defined “intuition” as “a state of consciousness” arising from the alpha level.
Theta is deeper than alpha, involves dreams, and is another “level” we seek to reach during a good night’s sleep. Theta has brain frequencies approximately four to seven pulses per second.
Delta is the deepest sleep level with four pulses or less. Delta levels are documented to be “dreamless.” Many define the delta level as “unconscious” with fewer than four pulses per second. I wonder if anesthesia involves delta. I do not yet know. Yet I learned much as I listened to the conversation, the words I am sharing below.
And this relates to our court reporting field how?
During a job, professionals were discussing the human body, our ability to focus, how we focus, how we store energy, and how our body works with differing brain pulses.
While I was seated in complete listening mode, and our court reporting work posture, one of the professionals who had been speaking, looked to me and was quiet. I paused and waited and waited.
Then the professional said, “Monette, since you are a court reporter, you are able to enter the alpha stage very quickly and very deeply from the beta level. Did you know that?”
Part I of III is posted January 3, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted January 14, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted January 28, 2013, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
03 Jan 2013
Author: monette | Category: ADA, Advocate, ASL, Big D, Captain Kevin Donnelly, Captioner, captioning prep, Career Advancement, CART FAQ, CART provider, CART/captioning, Coach, Coaching, consultant, court reporter certification, court reporter test prep, Court Reporter Tutor, Court reporting students, court reporting test prep, court reporting tests, Court Reporting Whisperer, CRRbooks.com, Deaf, Dolphin Ward Floyd, Goal Setting, Hard of Hearing, HCV, Hep C, HOH, home-study, HV with HCV, Interpreter, Kevin Drue Donnelly, late deafened, Life Coach, Management, Monette Benoit, Monette's Musings, Motivation, NCRA Court Reporters, NCRA prep, NCRA test prep, NCRA WKT, Oral Deaf, RDR CSR CCR, Real-Time, realtime dictionary, Remote Interpreting, RMR RDR CSR CCR, Sign Interpreters, Students, Test Prep, The Panama Story, time managment, Tutor, Tutoring, Veterans Helping Veterans, Written Knowledge Test, www.CRRbooks.com | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
Wheels Slowing Spinning? What’s Your Motivation?
Part III of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
October 2012
Part I began: If you could do anything with your life what would it be?
What would you ‘really’ do with your time, your heart, your ears, and your hands?
Would you share your court reporting skills with individuals who are waiting to ‘hear’ from you?
Would you work in court? Would you focus on specialty freelance reporting? Would you really work with attorneys? (Yes, I asked that question.) Many of us have enjoyed the thrill of working with attorneys and many still do now.
Would you provide CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation)?
Would you learn sign language to have the ability to share your top-shelf skills to communicate with all your consumers? Would you learn about the Little D world, Big D, oral deaf, late-deafened, and hard-of-hearing children and adults?
Would you caption? Would you be able and willing to caption during the evenings, weekends, and holidays? It goes with the territory for many broadcast captioners. I know captioners who have shared with me that they spent years writing “down the hall” or “in the basement” or “upstairs” away from their family, yet were able to hear family laughter and loud voices. Would they do it all again? Many state they would.
And there will be individuals who will read this column, tilt their heads and think, “I am doing what I really want to do. I am.”
To that I say, “Bravo.”
Part II began: Yet if you could do anything with your skills, have you made a list to find out what “that anything” is? Have you listed what you would have to learn, what you would need to finish, to accomplish that list? I know people like the term “bucket list.” If those words for you, great.
If your heart is almost full after working, or you believe it would be “fuller if …” then perhaps now is the time for you to peek up from that desk. Now may be the time to move away from some of the daily drama that we “know” fills our busy world.
When we know a commute will require a longer drive-time on a particular road, we make different choices, yes? We find another road or perhaps we leave at another time, if that is possible. Often, we will do our darnest to avoid sitting in that darn traffic.
We avoid sitting with the wheels slowly spinning.
Are your wheels slowly spinning? What is your motivation?
Part III: What would motivate you to act on your motivation once you define specifics?
Is money again at the top of the list? When was the last time you left a job, onsite or remote, as a court reporter, captioner, CART provider, or student and felt that you had pitched your best? When did you last know you accomplished what you had planned and had worked toward?
Perhaps you want to raise your expectations for your world and to believe that you do have the coping skills to live the life you planned.
When I listen to individuals sharing their dreams, their hopes, their expectations, their fears, and yes, their successes, I am honored at what is shared straight-up, no excuses given. Court reporters tell it like it is. Really straight-up.
As we prep to roll into the holidays many of us will spend time helping others. We will schedule our time around other people’s schedules, personally and professionally, adding to the expectations of others with our hearts, our ears, our hands, and our time.
I want to suggest that you remember you are an investment that will multiple into grand, new paths when you are truly making the best choices for you.
What is your motivation to get up each day? For what are you grateful each evening and within your quiet moments?
My wish is that your goals, your dreams, will begin to whisper to you.
I wish that your whispers will become dreams, then goals.
Your goals will become committed statements.
Your statements will become reality.
You are what motivates me as I finish this article late in the evening on another extended deadline.
So many reporters and students have crossed my path as a result of my years of court reporting, publishing books and CDs, learning how to provide and then sharing CART, captioning, teaching, tutoring, coaching, public speaking, and sixteen years writing this JCR (Journal of Court Reporting) “Beyond The Comfort Zone” column.
Tonight I am working with eyeglasses that are broken (yes, we just move forward, don’t we?). I am helping my mother continue to deal with serious health issues as she grieves the death of her husband (my dad) of fifty-eight years. Then I read an email or receive a message wherein you share. The spark(s), and sparkle, in many of you is what motivates me, and I thank you.
Part I of III is posted October 4, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted October 18, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted October 30, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
30 Oct 2012
Author: monette | Category: "WKT", 95 % pass rate written exam, Captain Kevin Drue Donnelly, CART/captioning, Certify NCRA RPR WKT skills RMR RDR, Coach, Coaching, consultant, court reporter certification, court reporter test prep, Court Reporter Tutor, court reporting test prep, court reporting tests, Court Reporting Whisperer, CRRbooks.com, CSR RPR, Deaf, Goal Setting, HCV, hepatitis C, HOH, home-study, Kevin Drue Donnelly, Life Coach, Management, Monette's Musings, Monnie Floyd, Motivation, NCRA, NCRA test prep, NCRA WKT, pass tests, pass WKT, Prep Court Reporting, Real-Time, RPR Test Prep, The Panama Story, Tutor, Tutor & Empowerment Coach, Tutoring, Uncategorized, WKT prep, Written Knowledge Test, www.CRRbooks.com | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
Thriving In Five – Or Less, Part III of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
Part I: Why thrive in five? Why thrive with less?
I believe the majority of individuals in the court reporting profession think of the number ‘five’ as a take, a 5-minute take.
Thriving in five? Yes.
Thriving in less than five? Yes, this relates, too.
Recently, I read that the average person thinks 50,000+ thoughts a day.
I smiled immediately thinking (adding to my average number of thoughts that day) that court reporters must have many more than 50,000 thoughts a day.
Our tenacious personalities, our “word” work and our “word” schooling, in my opinion, would add up to many more than the average person, yes? …
Part II: Is steno a new language? Yes. Do we learn new skills every day? Oh, yes.
Do we learn new words each day?
Yes, each and every day.
And that thrive in five mindset is a frequent flier program in our court reporting world.
We do earn frequent flier points and note skill advancement once we decide to focus on this concept.
The mindset is doable and assists us to measure our progress and our goals. It is.
Often I may ask where a court reporter is (spending time) advancing their skills?
Many professionals share that they practice after a full work day, “At home in my office.”
I may ask students, “Where do you attend school?”
A common answer, “Online in my room alone.” Hm. …
Part III: Thriving in five is a simplistic approach to find some fun (their words) – court reporting students and court reporters shared with me – when I trotted it into my tutoring and coaching time.
“Might as well try this,” some said. “It seems worth a go.”
My reply, “Now that’s the true spirit.”
I also suggest that individuals embrace their discomfort – momentarily – to isolate what is stopping or halting the advancement of skills and goals.
Thriving in five includes finding your interruption(s) focus, to isolate an interruption in your strength, and in your confidence.
Remember when you struggled on the steno machine in your new theory, your new language, writing “a cat sat on the hat?” Did you just smile?
We huffed and puffed writing those words, yes?
As a court reporter, “I absolutely can do this,” is one thought I have when the mojo is flowing.
I may also think, “This will never happen again.” Why? Because my head may be on a table or the steering wheel.
And the action that created that thought is one I truly do not ever want repeated. Not ever.
We earn many of the thoughts that cross our mind – remember I quoted the stat above for 50,000+ per day for the average person.
What are your favorite five word thrive in five possibilities?
Multiple individuals have shared this focus “is like scrabble, and I can use vowels and consonants.”
Each day we collect data in our personal and professional world.
We trust the method and the process that has successfully set us apart from the “average” person with our skills, our thoughts, and our focus.
Refine, define, and know that you are the expert.
Part I of III is posted July 13, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted July 31, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted August 8, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
08 Aug 2012
Author: monette | Category: Coach, Court Reporter Tutor, Court reporting students, Deaf, HOH, Monette Benoit, Tutor, Tutoring | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
Thriving In Five – Or Less, Part I of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
Part I: Why thrive in five? Why thrive with less?
I believe the majority of individuals in the court reporting profession think of the number ‘five’ as a take, a 5-minute take.
Thriving in five? Yes.
Thriving in less than five? Yes, this relates, too.
Recently, I read that the average person thinks 50,000+ thoughts a day.
I smiled immediately thinking (adding to my average number of thoughts that day) that court reporters must have many more than 50,000 thoughts a day.
Our tenacious personalities, our “word” work and our “word” schooling, in my opinion, would add up to many more than the average person, yes?
Back to the thriving in five.
We can create five goals while in school, while working as a reporter, while testing, and while improving skills and our goals.
Thriving in five may be customized for working reporters and for students.
Thriving in five may be long term.
Thriving in five may also be short term.
Five words. “I will accomplish this now.”
Five? “Bring it on; I’m prepared.”
Less than five? Yes, there are many.
“I will remember to breathe.”
(In class, one day, during a mandatory test, a student forgot to breathe and hit the floor with a bang. I could not stop dictating the test. Yet my ears and eyebrows remained raised for almost five minutes. That student then stayed down on the hard, tile floor, “so I didn’t interrupt anyone,” waiting for the end of the test and the moment until all fingers stopped writing in a large classroom. I cannot make that up.)
Five words. I note when people share and ask, “What is your lowest fee?” “Then get that bid back.”
As summer marches forward the thrive in five may become “a task to be accomplished.” “Something I need to finish now.”
I started thinking about thrive in five while working with students and reporters.
“I need to learn it.” “How do I write it?” many students ask.
Me, “How does your theory define it?” (Okay, that’s six words.)
“I haven’t looked it up.” “Why transcribe all my tests?”
“I’m sure I didn’t pass.” Yikes.
After a 5-minute take and while at work we have the ability to learn so much about how we write, how we hesitate, how we misstroke a word or a phrase.
We can also learn how to avoid repeating that same error, that untranned word or phrase.
When we learn a new skill or new language, typically there is a steady climb with improvement.
As we continue to hone the new skill or a new language, typically the skill plateaus and/or the skill may pause.
Our skill advancement may seem to slow down or – worse – have a dip. This is normal, say experts.
Yes, one might state that it is normal if they are not the individuals who are experiencing the change in rapid advancement. Yet this is how we learn a new skill, a new language. It is.
Part I of III is posted July 13, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted July 31, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted August 8, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
13 Jul 2012
Author: monette | Category: Advocate, ASL, Big D, Captain Kevin Donnelly, CART provider, CART/captioning, Coach, consultant, court reporter test prep, Court Reporter Tutor, Court reporting students, court reporting test prep, Court reporting tutor, Court Reporting Whisperer, Deaf, Goal Setting, Hard of Hearing, HCV, hepatitis C, HOH, home-study, HV with HCV, Interpreter, Kevin Drue Donnelly, late deafened, Life Coach, Monette Benoit, Monette's Musings, Monnie Floyd, Motivation, NCRA, NCRA Court Reporters, NCRA prep, pass tests, Prep Court Reporting Tests, Real-Time, Remote Interpreting, RMR RDR CSR CCR, RPR Test Prep, Sign Interpreters, technology, Test Prep, The Panama Story, Tutor, Tutor & Empowerment Coach, Tutoring, Uncategorized, WKT prep, Written Exam, www.CRRbooks.com | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
Weeding, Inner Landscapes, Nuclear Implants, Part III of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
Part I: The sun is shining; it is almost 80 degrees in Texas as I write this column in March.
Winter was mild here and after months and months with severe drought and watering restrictions, we have rain. We have much rain. …
Part II: Many court reporters and court reporting students share they are overwhelmed.
As I help each person, I hear conversations where individuals want to “cram” (my word) years of schooling and work into an extremely short period of time with “extreme changes” (their words).
Perhaps “inner landscaping” needs to be defined.
Where does one begin?
As this varies with each person’s goals and commitments I advise starting with a position we clearly define to advance forward into a steady adventure.
Steady strength building (my term), in my opinion, prevents burn out with goals that may be(come) challenging.
Again, this will change with each person.
Inner landscaping involves weeding out what is not working and planting seeds for growth that will now organize your skills and your desired skills. …
Part III: Individuals in our field desire to improve and to advance management techniques.
Where are you stuck?
Where do you think you are stuck?
What weeds do you want to eliminate to avoid frustration and wasting time (words often shared with me)?
So where does the “nuclear implants” from the title come into this month’s column?
Simply put, I thought you would enjoy this true event.
As I was “weeding” this article, my office received a phone call.
I was informed I needed to promptly return the call as “they need help for someone with a nuclear implant.”
Yes, I promptly returned the call.
Yes, the individual has a (long) job title specific to assisting consumers and individuals with specific requests.
The person making the request then stated, “The reason for phoning is to have you translate the language for nuclear implant people.”
Yes, I am sure the request was for a cochlear implant – not nuclear implant – and translation of a language is not necessary.
As a court reporter I listened and was then informed by this individual what “all we really need is your lowest price to translate the language for those nuclear implant people? That’s all we want to know.” Imagine that.
Weeding, inner landscapes, and nuclear transplants.
Our work and our world is changing.
I believe that you deserve to remove the weeds (this may include people, too) in your world.
You deserve to customize your inner landscape and to enjoy the process.
And I wish you persistence on your path.
As I finished this article, the mail was delivered.
The postal lady said, I kid you not, “Here you go. I spent the last several days weeding my yard and my mother’s yard. She’s too old, 96, to do it by herself. It sure is soothing to weed, isn’t it?”
I blinked hard and tipped my head.
She said, “At the end of my busy day I actually look forward to going out there and just ripping those weeds up out of the ground – roots and all!”
I bowed my head, smiling.
“Yes indeed,” was my only reply.
She wiped the sweat off her forehead with her elbow and upper arm.
She laughed, “I work hard all day outdoors, too, to then go out there and go get ‘em. That’s how I’m relaxing now. And I find it soothing. I get to think and plan my next day and my world. Whoever thought I’d actually look forward to that?”
I smiled and watched her depart. Yes indeed.
Weeding helps her to sort the details and to plan her world.
And you? What helps you?
Part I of III is posted June 1, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted June 21, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted June 29, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
29 Jun 2012
Author: monette | Category: CART/captioning, Coach, Court Reporter Tutor, Court reporting students, Deaf, HOH, Monette Benoit, Tutor, Uncategorized | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
Weeding, Inner Landscapes, Nuclear Implants, Part II of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
Part I: The sun is shining; it is almost 80 degrees in Texas as I write this column in March.
Winter was mild here and after months and months with severe drought and watering restrictions, we have rain. We have much rain.
Warm winter temperatures and so much rain have brought the gift of bluebonnets, roses that bloomed all winter – as well as weeds and fire ants.
We have so many weeds that we are now being “warned” (actual word) by “experts” via newspapers and news that the weeds and bugs “to come will be extreme” (actual words).
The lack of low temperatures also has gifted us with “extreme” pollens, and we are being warned about allergens that “will explode” as temperatures rise.
The subject of weeds has overtaken, my opinion, the majority of topics when people now greet each other.
Running an errand recently, a man approached and said, “It sure is warm out there. The fleas are going to be abundant this year. You better take care.”
I was not sure if he was joking. Nope, he was sincere.
I stood poker-faced and listened before he shared “the bad news about weeds” and what is predicted.
I looked around the store, paused, and softly said, “You sure are full of good news today, yes?” …
Part II: Many court reporters and court reporting students share they are overwhelmed.
As I help each person, I hear conversations where individuals want to “cram” (my word) years of schooling and work into an extremely short period of time with “extreme changes” (their words).
Perhaps “inner landscaping” needs to be defined.
Where does one begin?
As this varies with each person’s goals and commitments I advise starting with a position we clearly define to advance forward into a steady adventure.
Steady strength building (my term), in my opinion, prevents burn out with goals that may be(come) challenging.
Again, this will change with each person.
Inner landscaping involves weeding out what is not working and planting seeds for growth that will now organize your skills and your desired skills.
Inner landscaping includes celebrating your strengths.
When you know that a change is needed (or is going to be needed) this is a strength.
Many of us know the experience of looking over our shoulder and seeing (knowing) when the change or adjustment “should” have been made.
One person’s weed may be another person’s flower, yes?
I know people who ruthlessly uproot all sunflowers to prevent sunflower seeds from spreading.
I also know people who love the tall flower and purchase specific seeds to grow larger sunflowers in their yards.
Your landscaping will be different than others around your world (work and school).
Permit the process, the weeding, to methodically integrate into your world, into your schedule.
I often share with people I coach and tutor that in order to successfully run a marathon we achieve best results when we put our sneakers on. (You know who you are if you just nodded.)
On my lawn-weeding yellow brick road I have purchased multiple products to assist me.
After applying products, when weeds, fire ants and bugs are not eliminated I shake my head. These products must work for somebody, I think? So why not me?
Do you see the correlation?
Reviewing my weeding and landscaping goal (and fire ant elimination) is an intention wherein I “want” to see an improvement or achieve the desired result, yes?
The lettering on each label, typically in all caps, states that weeds or bugs will be eliminated with “one simple dose” – and this raises my expectation as I purchase them, then apply ingredients. I now have an entire shelf dedicated to products that did not bear fruit on the “quickly” or “one simple” dose.
Then I ask another person for a recommendation; I ask what worked for them.
The comparisons to weeding and landscaping does relate to our work.
Part I of III is posted June 1, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted June 21, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted June 29, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
12 Jun 2012
Author: monette | Category: CART/captioning, Coach, Court Reporter Tutor, Court reporting students, Deaf, HOH, Monette Benoit, Tutoring | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
Weeding, Inner Landscapes, Nuclear Implants, Part I of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
Part I: The sun is shining; it is almost 80 degrees in Texas as I write this column in March.
Winter was mild here and after months and months with severe drought and watering restrictions, we have rain. We have much rain.
Warm winter temperatures and so much rain have brought the gift of bluebonnets, roses that bloomed all winter – as well as weeds and fire ants.
We have so many weeds that we are now being “warned” (actual word) by “experts” via newspapers and news that the weeds and bugs “to come will be extreme” (actual words).
The lack of low temperatures also has gifted us with “extreme” pollens, and we are being warned about allergens that “will explode” as temperatures rise.
The subject of weeds has overtaken, my opinion, the majority of topics when people now greet each other.
Running an errand recently, a man approached and said, “It sure is warm out there. The fleas are going to be abundant this year. You better take care.”
I was not sure if he was joking. Nope, he was sincere.
I stood poker-faced and listened before he shared “the bad news about weeds” and what is predicted.
I looked around the store, paused, and softly said, “You sure are full of good news today, yes?”
He nodded and said, “Yeah. Remember. And I warned you!”
How does this relate to court reporting?
We continue to receive frequent emails and news that our profession is shifting.
I listen to court reporting students, court reporters, CART providers and captioners sharing their deepest concerns and fears.
Since the death of my father and Mom’s continued hospitalizations with serious complications and gifted hospital MRSA, C-Diff and other infections, I find weeding now to be a task where I am mentally sorting out details.
Weeding abundant new growth in the soil and yard has become a task that is simpler than it used to be (for me).
And the small snake I picked up as I was weeding recently was just as surprised as I was. Really.
As I weeded today, after multiple days of recent rain and multiple days of heavy rains yet to come this week, I thought about the landscaping in the yard and landscaping in our world.
Many court reporters and court reporting students share they are overwhelmed.
As I help each person, I hear conversations where individuals want to “cram” (my word) years of schooling and work into an extremely short period of time with “extreme changes” (their words).
Perhaps “inner landscaping” needs to be defined.
Part I of III is posted June 1, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted June 21, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted June 29, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
01 Jun 2012
Author: monette | Category: ADA, Advocate, ASL, Big D, Captain Kevin Donnelly, Captioner, Career Advancement, CART FAQ, CART provider, CART/captioning, Coach, college CART, consultant, court reporter certification, court reporter test prep, Court Reporter Tutor, Court Reporting Accuracy, Court reporting students, court reporting test prep, Court reporting tutor, Court Reporting Whisperer, Deaf, Goal Setting, Hard of Hearing, HCV, hepatitis C, HOH, home-study, Interpreter, Kevin Drue Donnelly, late deafened, Life Coach, Monette Benoit, Monette's Musings, Motivation, NCRA Court Reporters, NCRA test prep, Oral Deaf, Real-Time, The Panama Story, time managment, Written Exam, www.CRRbooks.com | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
How To Write Ineffectively, Part III of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
“There’s A Lot Going On In The Circus”, March 2012, included one sentence that has resulted in (many, many) private emails from students, court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners.
I have been asked to elaborate. …
Part II: Is the problem not having the word translate correctly? That is fixable.
Is the problem being in over one’s head with a job that is too technical?
Knowing when to ask for backup and seeking help is essential here, too.
Have you ever written a test or a job where you thought the speaker(s) would never stop talking?
Have you endured and stayed in the chair while the words were “way” fast, too difficult?
Yet, when the event finished, the earth did not swallow you (I have prayed for this, CARTing to large screens).
Part III: Writing every day and not progressing? What is tranning correctly, and what is an error is, again, going to be very different for a student and reporter taking a 5-minute test and a court reporter, CART provider, or captioner, providing the verbatim, accurate record.
Do you know your software? Are you trailing when you make the error? Are you dropping multiple words? Do you know your theory? Can you fingerspell the word? (I cannot tell you how many individuals tell me they have never been able to do this and will never be able to accomplish fingerspelling.) Learn to fingerspell words, know what is in your dictionary, fingerspell the dang word and get on to the next word. Really.
Do you have test anxiety? Anxiety contributes to errors.
Where did you excel on a test or on the job? What enabled you to feel good, to sit taller, to know you were doing a great job? Focus on that, too.
Good writing – excellent writing is vital.
Analyze what is working for you and what needs improvement.
The “evidence” is right there in front of you. Truly.
Are you taking vitamins, exercising, sleeping more than five hours a night?
(I am making a point with five hours a night unless you are one of the special people like Betty White, 90 years old, who only needs four hours. Standard? Not for many of us, right?)
If you are writing ineffectively I want to ask what appears to drain you?
Are you enjoying your schooling and career adventure? (It is a path with great learning curves, my opinion.)
Are you satisfied at work?
Do you feel that you are working far too many hours? That may contribute, too.
Many reporters tell me that they are “now expected” to do more and now receive less income.
Many individuals, during coaching, tell me that they “resent” this.
If you feel overwhelmed, while working privately with you, I would ask if you have any area in your life where you feel true joy.
When students were truly overwhelmed, I encouraged students to come to the SAMM Center, San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries, a homeless shelter in San Antonio, and work the chow line with me. Really.
What charges you and inspires you? This is unique for each of us.
If you are focusing on how to avoid writing ineffectively, I would recommend that you enroll in a seminar, a webinar, request private tutoring/coaching.
Attend a convention to find the spirit and enthusiasm that brought you into this wonderful profession in the first place.
Conventions and online gatherings share enthusiasm and expertise from gifted professionals.
I always learn from each event “and” the person who asks the question that may appear simple to others. These events are wonderful for recharging you.
Will you ever write a perfect test, a perfect take, a perfect job, a perfect class and perfect show? Perhaps, my friend.
This is always our goal, yes?
Find the resistance, take charge, and confidently move forward while writing effectively.
Opportunities are waiting for you. Waiting for you.
Part I of III is posted May 2, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted May 15, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
25 May 2012
Author: monette | Category: CART/captioning, Coach, Court Reporter Tutor, Court reporting students, Deaf, Monette Benoit, Tutoring | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
How To Write Ineffectively, Part II of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
“There’s A Lot Going On In The Circus”, March 2012, included one sentence that has resulted in (many, many) private emails from students, court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners.
I have been asked to elaborate. …
Part II: Is the problem not having the word translate correctly? That is fixable.
Is the problem being in over one’s head with a job that is too technical?
Knowing when to ask for backup and seeking help is essential here, too.
Have you ever written a test or a job where you thought the speaker(s) would never stop talking?
Have you endured and stayed in the chair while the words were “way” fast, too difficult?
Yet, when the event finished, the earth did not swallow you (I have prayed for this, CARTing to large screens).
Then upon review of your notes after realtiming (I know you want to realtime all your work), you discover that your work was better than you thought? That happens, too. Really.
Our dedication, training, and discipline to detail ensures we always seek 100 percent.
When we are less than 100 percent, what do we remember?
The words that did not tran or were problematic.
We all have written words wherein we were sure the individual was not speaking English.
(CARTing college Latin for an honors student, was easier than reporting individuals and expert witnesses who insisted they were speaking English. It happens in our field, right?)
Writing ineffectively might be failing to overcome patterns and areas that continue to expose our errors.
I am not suggesting that we change (all of) our writing, yet I am suggesting that we focus on precisely what is creating problems.
Writing every day and not progressing?
What is tranning correctly, and what is an error is, again, going to be very different for a student and reporter taking a 5-minute test and a court reporter, CART provider, or captioner, providing the verbatim, accurate record.
Do you know your software?
Are you trailing when you make the error?
Are you dropping multiple words?
Do you know your theory?
Can you fingerspell the word? (I cannot tell you how many individuals tell me they have never been able to do this and will never be able to accomplish fingerspelling.)
Learn to fingerspell words, know what is in your dictionary, fingerspell the dang word and get on to the next word. Really.
Do you have test anxiety? Anxiety contributes to errors.
Where did you excel on a test or on the job?
What enabled you to feel good, to sit taller, to know you were doing a great job? Focus on that, too.
Good writing – excellent writing is vital.
Analyze what is working for you and what needs improvement.
The “evidence” is right there in front of you. Truly.
Part I of III is posted May 3, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted May 25, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
15 May 2012
Author: monette | Category: CART/captioning, Coach, Court Reporter Tutor, Court reporting students, Deaf, HOH, Monette Benoit, Tutor, Tutoring | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
How To Write Ineffectively, Part I of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
“There’s A Lot Going On In The Circus”, March 2012, included one sentence that has resulted in (many, many) private emails from students, court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners.
I have been asked to elaborate.
I wrote, “… The circus comes to town in the blink of an eye. … Students and court reporters know how to work, and we know how to write ineffectively. In short, we know what does not work.”
As I received comments and questions I read, “I received my school certificate, but I haven’t passed state or NCRA certification. I have so much – as other students – to contend with, and even though we try to practice every day, we don’t progress. Lord knows we pray. This can be depressing.”
Multiple emails from reporters detailing how they write ineffectively, another email about not seeming “to get anywhere” while “trying to practice” every day, including the term depressing and earning certification – these are each important words to me.
Students develop specific skills, in my opinion, while in school.
Upon graduation, court reporters learn a complete new skill set while realtiming.
(I am in awe of the students now graduating with conflict-free dictionaries and custom software packages to specifically meet their needs, their requests.)
Our intention while in school, in my opinion, is to pass that test.
Our intention while on the job as a court reporter, CART provider, and broadcast captioner is to accurately have each word translate accurately.
Certificate pages in depositions and courtrooms require our signature stating we provided an accurate transcript (wording varies with each venue, state, and court, we know).
CART providers and captioners know that their consumer(s) and/or viewing audience are relying upon their finely tuned skills to accurately realtime each word.
Writing ineffectively, for a student and/or a reporter, would include not eliminating efforts that are unproductive. Yes?
Simple, yes?
Perhaps not, it seems, from the students and professionals who contact me.
“How do I change my writing?” they ask.
Working harder for each test and on each job does take its toll.
Stress, burnout, ill health – we know these issues may surface when work and testing are challenging.
Yet many people with a refocus will change the challenge.
I have placed my head on my desk or the steering wheel with the simple mantra, “That will never happen again.”
Then I work and focus upon removing that problem.
Does it work the first time?
I wish.
Yet, a focus draws attention.
We learned theory and progressed through school, yes? You can change your focus.
Part II of III is posted May 15, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted May 25, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Career Coach,
Multiple-Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting and CART Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
“Get ‘eR Done in Just One” – as evidenced by the many students and professionals who study Court Reporter Reference Books to pass their RPR, CSR, and RDR exams on the first test. Testimonials are online — from students, instructors, program directors, CART Captioners, novice and senior court reporters, www.CRRbooks.com.
** Pedagogically sound, covering a wealth of material with facts, tips, and comprehensive information, the Purple Books from CRRbooks.com are time-tested and proven in the classroom with educators and with independent study.
The “Complete NCRA RPR, RDR, and CSR Test Prep Textbook, 6th Edition” has greatly expanded testing tips, testing focus, NCRA COPE Ethics, grammar sections, plus — legal, Latin, court, English, grammar, vocabulary, medical, technology and computer chapters. www.CRRbooks.com
The Workbook contains **2,002 practice test questions; the Companion Study Guide cross-references every word in the workbook’s 2,002 multiple-choice text practice questions.
The “Full Test Prep Set” and “Trio Test Prep” – each listed on www.CRRbooks.com
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and career coaching? Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Tutoring and career coaching topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and career coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, create new possibilities, advance their career, author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exams and for their career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART Captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Career Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? ** What have you ‘really’ wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
* No two are alike. Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART Captioner, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART Captioners, students, and instructors.
She has also helped to create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day. Reach up. Bring it. * Bring it today!
03 May 2012
Author: monette | Category: ADA, Advocate, ASL, Big D, Captain Kevin Donnelly, captioning, Career Advancement, CART FAQ, CART provider, CART/captioning, Coach, Coaching, college CART, consultant, court reporter certification, court reporter test prep, Court Reporter Tutor, Court Reporting Accuracy, Court reporting students, court reporting test prep, Court reporting tutor, Court Reporting Whisperer, Deaf, Goal Setting, Hard of Hearing, HCV, hepatitis C, HOH, home-study, HV with HCV, Interpreter, Kevin Drue Donnelly, late deafened, Life Coach, Monette Benoit, Monette's Musings, Monnie Floyd, NCRA Court Reporters, NCRA prep, NCRA test prep, NCRA WKT, Oral Deaf, pass tests, Prep Court Reporting Tests, Real-Time, realtime dictionary, religious events, Remote Interpreting, RPR Test Prep, Students, technology, The Panama Story, time managment, Tutor & Empowerment Coach, Tutoring, Uncategorized, Veterans Helping Veterans, www.CRRbooks.com | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
There’s A Lot Going On In The Circus, Part III of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved
Part I: Privately working with students and experienced court reporters a theme appears with each person. A desire is born. A wanting is experienced. Boundaries are removed. Fences (insecurities) are lowered. …
Part II: Students and court reporters know how to work and how to write ineffectively.
In short, we know what does not work.
When the circus is loud and stomping around your home and/or work place, it can be colorful.
Yet when we permit the circus to remain at the forefront in our daily and weekly schedule we witness shifts in our empowering moments. …
Part III: Our circus may have colorful connections; yet we know that every word, and every new skill, every new goal, and every new item added on our to-do list will change the whole enchilada.
And this can be a good thing when we are the masters at the circus gate, and when we are the one who remembers to set aside time to reach our personal and professional enrichment.
When we have the tools to know how to successfully write each word, how to succinctly respond and react to each action which may have power over our journey, we are one step toward mastering our crossroads.
We can be the conductor in “that there” three-ring circus.
Oh so true, many of us have been inside the circus so long that the circus feels comfy and familiar.
Coaching, I frequently comment to students, reporters, and to court reporting instructors, “There’s a whole lot you got going on in that there circus.”
Each person responds with sincere, honest replies.
Every student, every reporter and every instructor, shares full and complete accountings to their circus. I’m talking sustained, detailed descriptions. Many, just listening to their own words, laugh saying, “Did I really just say that?”
When we step back and look around, many of us are amazed at what we are actually accomplishing while in the circus each and every day.
Thus I ask you to listen to your words containing “should, could, need, want” and to then listen to your circus.
I am not requesting a complicated flowchart with systematic details and annotated exhibits.
I am suggesting that you (me, too) may be permitting exterior people and exterior energy to divert you away from your true “expansions.”
Do you have a lot going on in your circus?
Ask yourself this question three times a day, and you will know the answer.
You will know where you are headed and where you want to be.
The circus then becomes a focused mindset enabling each of us to transform our world moment by moment.
“Monette’s Circus Survivor Manual” is a simple yet powerful tool when you are the chef to your whole enchilada – and you are not on autopilot.
Part I of III is posted March 2, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted March 20, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
29 Mar 2012
Author: monette | Category: CART/captioning, Coach, Court Reporter Tutor, Court reporting students, Deaf, HOH, Monette Benoit, Tutor, Tutoring | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
There’s A Lot Going On In The Circus, Part II of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
Part I began: Privately working with students and experienced court reporters a theme appears with each person. A desire is born. A wanting is experienced. Boundaries are removed. Fences (insecurities) are lowered.
Individuals who have been on autopilot seek to regain their private and professional world. How? Ah, grasshopper, this varies with each person and with the circus.
The circus, as I coin the term, is the whole enchilada. It is the noise, the chatter, the bright lights, and the colorful people you permit to join your festival. …
Part II: Students and court reporters know how to work and how to write ineffectively.
In short, we know what does not work.
When the circus is loud and stomping around your home and/or work place, it can be colorful.
Yet when we permit the circus to remain at the forefront in our daily and weekly schedule we witness shifts in our empowering moments.
Recently, as I worked with an individual seeking to regain balance I asked, “What is the best quality you now have?” I kid you not – the answer was two words: “Nothing works.” Hmm.
Yet if I spoke to that individual a few hours later, a day, or even a week after my direct question, I am willing to bet that the answer would not be “Nothing works.” The answer, and the circus, would be different.
The colorful circus with loud music was present at that moment.
Yet many of us have experienced calm moments in a circus.
There are sounds of soft music as we stroll the circus path.
There are wafts of delicious smells as we stroll the circus. There are moments of quiet and calm as we twirl on a ride.
There are sweet moments watching small children, wide-eyed, who reach up and out to an animal or to an adult.
The guide to surviving the circus is simple, yes?
Take the good, leave the bad, don’t overeat, know when to walk away, and remember where you left your car.
Once the guide is clear at the circus, and we know the circus can march into our world now with 24-hour cycles of technology, communication and social media, we then have a motivation to place our circus boundaries and to stick the boundarird, yes?
Court reporters, students, and instructors have stunning survival skills.
Students are working and attending school online or onsite; court reporters, captioners and CART providers are capturing words, challenged with new experiences every day, and working to expand skills.
Our goal is to accurately write each word the first time and to preserve events.
Simple, right?
Simplicity in our world involves multiple exterior variations on the job, in school, and while racing to a store to purchase food that is essential for that next meal.
Part I of III is posted March 2, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted March 29, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
20 Mar 2012
Author: monette | Category: CART/captioning, Coach, Court Reporter Tutor, Court reporting students, Deaf, HOH, Monette Benoit, Tutoring | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
There’s A Lot Going On In The Circus, Part I of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved
Privately working with students and experienced court reporters a theme appears with each person. A desire is born. A wanting is experienced. Boundaries are removed. Fences (insecurities) are lowered.
Individuals who have been on autopilot seek to regain their private and professional world. How? Ah, grasshopper, this varies with each person and with the circus.
The circus, as I coin the term, is the whole enchilada. It is the noise, the chatter, the bright lights, and the colorful people you permit to join your festival.
When we watch our own circus we are able to see the excuses (I include myself here, too), the shoulds, woulds, needs, and wants – which also include other people’s needs and wants.
Often we allow the currents, typically swift, to move us powerfully into directions we might not have desired.
How does that happen? My opinion is that we set out with the best intentions.
The tenacity for this profession, and the well documented 92 % failure rate in court reporting schools, ensures that those who successfully complete the program are disciplined.
Our “best intentions” may become overwhelming when we check e-mail, return calls, and begin the daily commute to work or to the home office (that can be tricky, too).
And I have not included essentials like food and equipment that “needs” to consistently work together to ensure a record or a test with the “needed” passing score.
When changes occur, we respond.
Other people’s forest fires may quickly become inroads into our circus.
Work forest fires may require that we step up to the plate and quickly move our established boundaries.
Did an expert witness appear without full communication to all parties?
Is an ill jury member altering the week’s schedule for the courtroom?
Remote CART providers and broadcast captioners may experience (audio) problems – beyond their control – that may not be resolved for extended periods of time.
“This just in” quickly shifts boundaries or schedules.
The circus comes to town with the blink of an eye.
In realtime, we then work to cope with ensuing changes.
My opinion is that this relates to our personal world, too.
Part II of III is posted March 20, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted March 29, 2012, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Career Coach,
Multiple-Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting and CART Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
“Get ‘eR Done in Just One” – as evidenced by the many students and professionals who study Court Reporter Reference Books to pass their RPR, CSR, and RDR exams on the first test. Testimonials are online — from students, instructors, program directors, CART Captioners, novice and senior court reporters, www.CRRbooks.com.
** Pedagogically sound, covering a wealth of material with facts, tips, and comprehensive information, the Purple Books from CRRbooks.com are time-tested and proven in the classroom with educators and with independent study.
The “Complete NCRA RPR, RDR, and CSR Test Prep Textbook, 6th Edition” has greatly expanded testing tips, testing focus, NCRA COPE Ethics, grammar sections, plus — legal, Latin, court, English, grammar, vocabulary, medical, technology and computer chapters. www.CRRbooks.com
The Workbook contains **2,002 practice test questions; the Companion Study Guide cross-references every word in the workbook’s 2,002 multiple-choice text practice questions.
The “Full Test Prep Set” and “Trio Test Prep” – each listed on www.CRRbooks.com
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and career coaching? Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Tutoring and career coaching topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and career coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, create new possibilities, advance their career, author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exams and for their career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART Captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Career Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? ** What have you ‘really’ wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
* No two are alike. Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART Captioner, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART Captioners, students, and instructors.
She has also helped to create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day. Reach up. Bring it. * Bring it today!
02 Mar 2012
Author: monette | Category: Advocate, ASL, Big D, Captain Kevin Donnelly, captioning, Career Advancement, CART FAQ, CART/captioning, Coach, Coaching, college CART, consultant, court reporter certification, court reporter test prep, Court Reporter Tutor, Court reporting students, court reporting test prep, CRRbooks.com, Deaf, Goal Setting, Hard of Hearing, hepatitis C, HOH, Interpreter, late deafened, Life Coach, Management, Monette Benoit, Motivation, NCRA test prep, Oral Deaf, Real-Time, RID Sign Interpreter, SHHH, time managment, Tutor, Tutoring | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
My Village Chief is HOH, Part III of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
Part I: My village chief sprinted into a parent’s hospital room wearing shorts, sandals (no socks), and a NCAA basketball T-shirt, Saturday morning.
He was all business, dressed casually. When he spoke his first two sentences, I knew. I listened and focused on the voice I know well.
When he turned his head, I saw the aid. Then, I saw the second hearing aid. …
Part II: He paused, “Can any court reporter do that?” pointing to flawless live captions.
I ducked my head, thinking … thinking. He leaned in to hear my answer.
“May I ask you something first?” I asked softly.
He nodded. Slowly, I asked, “Can any GP, general practicioner, any doctor, do what you just did?”
The doctor looked puzzled.
I asked, “Can any doctor go into an organ, one bleeding for months from cancer radiation not knowing what the doctor will find, eliminate multiple blood clots, clean the organ, and assist the patient – all in realtime – as you just did?”
He shot back in his chair, “No!”
I leaned into my village chief, “That’s my answer to you.” …
Part III: A nurse ran into the room with a phone. She said slowly, loudly, “HERE! When it rings, you answer, okay? The cardiologist will phone, okay!?”
My village chief paused before he looked away. I saw it.
Everyone could hear that nurse.
When the phone rang in my village chief’s hand, the nurse loudly said, “It’s ringing!!” He looked to the floor and said nothing before he placed that phone to his ear.
Soon, he departed without looking back, “We have to do this before this patient leaves Recovery. We only have minutes.” I thanked his back as he exited. Yes, he heard me.
A cardiologist appeared.
Soon, I answered my parent’s questions, and chose not to volunteer details while anesthesia and specialists were flowing in and nearby – all in realtime.
Then I drove to the one parent, recuperating after 57 days in hospitals now able to sit up.
I left out “Really bad. Could die …”
I focused on, “The doctors are wonderful.”
I checked meds, fed my parent, took out the trash, drove home.
That night a package arrived. (I receive a JCR, Journal of Court Reporting, for my library due to this column.) I was surprised to see the March 2010 JCR, not a current edition.
The cover detailed court reporters reporting veterans’ stories. My column that month was “A Number Of Firsts” profiling Karen Sadler, Ph.D., self-described “severely hard of hearing,” and Karen’s path to doctoral studies.
The next day I took the NCRA JCR, within envelope (to avoid others seeing my magazine), and waited for my village chief.
In IM-ICU I said, “I think this is a sign that I’m supposed to give this to you. I circled HOH and veterans articles you might enjoy.”
The proud WW II vet said, “I have multiple surgeries, and I’m helping doctors tonight. I’ll read this before I go to bed. Promise!”
He patted my arm; my JCR was tucked under his left elbow. Then, he ran down the hall to his next surgery.
We see each other often now with two parents hospitalized for seven-plus months.
Recently, a parent was re-admitted through ER, then moved to the surgical floor.
Married 57 years, my parents were 500 feet apart before an ambulance transported one parent to another hospital without letting them see each other.
When I see my chief, I call to his back (he hears), “Hey, Village Chief!”
He always turns around, “Hi! I have a patient …”
I smile, “I know. You have a patient waiting in surgery.” “Yes,” then sprints off.
When he has a moment, I share a hug.
Privately, I share events that baffle me.
“There’s too much blood – on the floor, the patient, in a cup on a shelf, in the cath; the patient does not know where the door is. Still the hospital is working to discharge this ICU patient today.”
He listens, sharing private opinions. Private opinions.
The hospital did discharge the patient hours later. I insisted that my concerned “are charted” for this patient.
The patient, my parent, was readmitted approximately 7 hours later with a 103 degree fever.
The ER staff was adamant that the hospital never should have discharged this patient, and the patient would have died that night if the patient had not returned to the ER.
I immediately requested my village chief.
He stepped back in, again this man saved my parent’s life – again – and I am listening to this wise doctor who has a passion for his work – again.
My village chief is hard of hearing, and I would have it no other way. He has saved my parent’s life so many times I have lost count.
This is perfect in my world right now.
And now I thank each of you, court reporters, broadcast captioners and CART providers for all that you do to help others – to include my village chief. Thank you, mon amis.
Part I of III is posted September 2, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted September 12, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted September 23, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
23 Sep 2011
Author: monette | Category: "WKT", ADA, Advocate, ASL, Big D, Captain Kevin Donnelly, CART provider, CART/captioning, Certify NCRA RPR Test Prep, Coach, consultant, court reporter test prep, Court Reporter Tutor, Court reporting students, court reporting test prep, CRRbooks.com, Deaf, Goal Setting, Hard of Hearing, HCV, HOH, home-study, Interpreter, Kevin's Sister, late deafened, Life Coach, Management, Monette Benoit, Monette's Musings, Motivation, NCRA, Oral Deaf, Real-Time, technology, The Panama Story, Tutoring, Written Exam | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
My Village Chief is HOH, Part I of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
Part I: My village chief sprinted into a parent’s hospital room wearing shorts, sandals (no socks), and a NCAA basketball T-shirt, Saturday morning.
He was all business, dressed casually. When he spoke his first two sentences, I knew. I listened and focused on the voice I know well.
When he turned his head, I saw the aid. Then, I saw the second hearing aid.
He scheduled surgery, shook our hands, left to return to (his words), “What else? NCAA playoffs. You can phone my home; here’s my number. Nothing by mouth after midnight, okay?”
My parent said, “I like him.”
The nurses, “The doctor can’t hear very well. Everyone knows he has problems on the phone.”
I had been quiet. “He has high coping skills. His hearing aids greatly assist him.”
A nurse with IVs and a bleeding cath line, “If you want to speak to him you have to speak loud.”
I said softly, “He is highly trained. Wearing two hearing aids, I have great faith in this man.”
Another nurse, “People have trouble understanding him.”
I did not roll my eyes. My parent asked (knowing I have worked with hard of hearing, HOH, and Deaf since 1993), “Do you think he can hear me, others, and operate with hearing aids?”
I smiled, “Very much so. He will do an excellent job.” The nurses remained silent.
The next morning at 7 a.m. we rolled into pre-op.
I said I would wait in the room for updates.
O.R. staff insisted that I wait in the designated surgical area.
I looked to the surgeon, “No. I’ll wait in the room for your updates.” He nodded; off they went.
Post-op the doctor sprinted into the room, “It’s much quieter in here. Thank you. Now let me tell you what happened.”
I asked if I could write medical terms he was sharing – technical terms – including “this is very bad – could kill … We have a cacophony of bad events …”
He nodded, “I know you’re a court reporter. Sure.”
I wrote new medical words. He gently corrected my spelling. I felt guided.
Then I said, “I need a village chief right now. It’s been so many months with two very ill parents. There’s so many doctors I can’t count. Many do not speak to each other as they ‘round’ giving different orders and meds. If you guide me, I’ll follow. Would you be my village chief?”
He beamed, nodded, and touched my left elbow.
Then he lowered his voice, “May I ask ‘you’ something?”
I nodded.
My village chief pointed to the TV (I had turned captions on), “I know you’re a court reporter, teacher and author; you do that.” (I had not spoken about my work.)
He paused, “Can any court reporter do that?” pointing to flawless live captions.
I ducked my head, thinking … thinking.
He leaned in to hear my answer.
“May I ask you something first?” I asked softly.
Part I of III is posted September 2, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted September 12, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted September 23, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
02 Sep 2011
Author: monette | Category: ADA, ASL, Big D, CART FAQ, Coaching, consultant, court reporter certification, Court Reporter Tutor, Deaf, Goal Setting, Hard of Hearing, HCV, HV with HCV, Interpreter, late deafened, Life Coach, Monette Benoit, Monette's Musings, Oral Deaf, Real-Time, Remote Interpreting, RID Sign Interpreter, RPR Test Prep, Uncategorized | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
“I Don’t Listen Well,” He Said, Part II of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
Part I began: When the medical specialist stood over my mother’s ICU bed and said, “I don’t listen well,” I was sure he was joking.
My mother was admitted into the hospital via ER. We thought it was a virus or food poisoning.
Soon, she was in intensive care.
Mom spent nine days, including Christmas Eve and Christmas day, in ICU.
Part II: Several professionals pushed eyeglasses down their noses to look into my eyes and ask, “Who are you again?” when I asked a direct question, then fully listened.
After many moments (several weeks), multiple shifts, medical disciplines, specialties, third-party contractors, housekeeping staff, and daily rotating staff, I am focused upon how people react with our “full listening.”
I had not wanted to “out myself” as a court reporter.
In fact, I worked to share that I’m an author – or teacher.
I asked Mom or Dad not to out me.
Each time a parent detailed, “She’s a court reporter, and she’s worked in court,” I saw a reaction.
I shared that I am here as a daughter.
(Then I would think of the “Jerry Seinfeld” show, “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”)
One doctor commented that he didn’t like that I was writing down words after people spoke. (I cannot make ‘that’ up.)
I explained that I write specific words to process the many, many (long) medical terms.
Perhaps I was asked not to write, not to make notes … and I listened to that request, too.
Then I wrote the details I might not have documented. A result?
One sampling: Mom received her “unavailable until Monday” scripted medicines (for an extreme rash) and had her teeth brushed late Saturday night. Really.
How was that accomplished?
I phoned late Saturday evening and said that I would bring my camera Sunday morning if Mom was not ‘treated’ with her meds and needs.
I was focused on preventing unnecessary suffering for the patient, my mother.
The hospital staff and I could not agree on the same focus.
Part I of III is posted April 7, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted April 26, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Development of skills to author your book, your blog, and how to publish,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Professionals who want to achieve their goals, to create new possibilities, to advance their career, to author their book, and to develop the dream within,
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?
Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
19 Apr 2011
Author: monette | Category: ADA, Advocate, ASL, Captain Kevin Drue Donnelly, Captioner, captioning prep, Career Advancement, CART FAQ, CART provider, CART/captioning, Coach, college CART, court reporter certification, court reporter test prep, Court Reporter Tutor, Court Reporting Accuracy, court reporting test prep, court reporting tests, Court Reporting Whisperer, CSR RPR, Deaf, Dolphin Ward Floyd, Goal Setting, HCV, hepatitis C, HOH, home-study, HV with HCV, Interpreter, Kevin Drue Donnelly, late deafened, Life Coach, Monette Benoit, Monette's Musings, Monnie Floyd, NCRA Court Reporters, NCRA prep, NCRA RPR Test Prep, NCRA WKT, Oral Deaf, pass tests, Real-Time, realtime dictionary, religious events, Remote Interpreting, RMR RDR CSR CCR, Test Prep, Uncategorized, WKT prep, www.CRRbooks.com | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
Conflicting Goals, Your Sandbox, And Circling,
Part II of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
March 2011
Part I began: Listening to a court reporter I ‘heard’ a pattern.
The court reporter and CART provider, now gainfully employed, is seeking to advance goals. Great.
The court reporter has a full-time job. Great.
The court reporter and CART provider has full-time family responsibilities and a good commute. Fact.
Where did the ‘circling’ occur while I fulfilled this customized request to tutor and coach?
The circling, in my opinion, occurred with ‘conflicting goals’ (my term) during our tutoring and coaching schedule.
One goal would place the reporter in a specific ‘spot’ on a designated date.
Part II: I was not disrespectful when I laughed.
From my chair and window to the world it was a great comment from a professional with a tenacious personality who would do much to reach the sought goals. This is one determined individual. My laughter was true based upon the “bad marriage and trapped” comment.
Then, the court reporter also laughed. Long, hardy, loud laughter.
Sometimes we do need to throw the mud on the floor, yes?
Then we can clean it up and move on with a clear head (and timeline).
Once we agreed on the true conflicting goals, the court reporter and I then refocused with a finer attention to detail.
We ended our tutoring and coaching session with the experienced court reporter now stating this was “not feeling trapped in that bad marriage awaiting benefits each day.”
This focus on conflicting goals was a benefit.
Are you concerned that your job will end suddenly? (Many now are.)
Are you sleeping less because of your concerns? (Many now are.)
List your goals and note the distance between each, if any.
If you want to run a CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) and broadcast captioning business and you are not near that target, you have work to do.
And that’s the good part.
We have multiple choices. We do. The court reporter and CART provider contacted me shortly after we mapped our new direction.
Part I of III is posted March 4, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted March 17, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted March 28, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, The Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RMR, RDR, or a state court reporting exam?
Monette will help you to pass your test and to exceed schooling and career goals. http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=61
Did You Know: www.CRRbooks.com has material to help you advance skills for NCRA exams and state certifications?
Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and empowerment coaching?
Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals.
Empowerment coaching and tutoring topics include:
• Motivational skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
• Process learning for more effective retention,
• Communication skills, daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.
Who comes to Monette for tutoring and empowerment coaching?
• Veteran and novice court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re “stuck” and falling behind, or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students and veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters, CART providers, and broadcast captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …
Check out: Reach Your Goals with Tutoring and Empowerment Coaching
http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29
Monette Benoit, the Court Reporting Whisperer, can help you achieve at much high levels.
Where do you want to go? What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life? Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!
About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.
17 Mar 2011
Author: monette | Category: ADA, Advocate, ASL, Captain Kevin Donnelly, Captioner, captioning, CART FAQ, Coach, college CART, court reporter certification, court reporter test prep, Court Reporter Tutor, Court Reporting Accuracy, Court reporting students, court reporting test prep, court reporting tests, Court Reporting Whisperer, Deaf, Goal Setting, Hard of Hearing, HCV, hepatitis C, home-study, HV with HCV, Kevin Drue Donnelly, late deafened, Life Coach, Management, Monette Benoit, Monette's Musings, Monnie Floyd, Motivation, NCRA Court Reporters, NCRA test prep, Prep Court Reporting, Real-Time, religious events, RMR RDR CSR CCR, technology, Test Prep, The Panama Story, time managment, Tutor, Tutor & Empowerment Coach, Veterans Helping Veterans, Written Exam, www.CRRbooks.com | Tags: Court Reporting Whisperer, Tutor & Empowerment Coach
De-Can’t The I Can’t, Part III of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
November/December 2010
Part I began: This November/December column was prompted after listening to an experienced court reporter express their “current mindset” during private coaching and tutoring.
The reporter, with vast experience, said, “I can’t do that. There can’t be no opportunities.” I was unclear if this was a comical statement or personal observation.
When the sentence was defined, at my request, the court reporter stated, “That’s really my opinion. But I really believe I can’t!” My reply was a simple, “Hmm. How’s that?”
This professional then listed a bucket of reasons and detailed explanations. Sentence after sentence began “I can’t …”
Due to “precise listening” in our court reporting field, we know there are high-frequency words and phrases. We know that all court reporting students are taught the phrase “I can’t” in a brief form.
As the holidays approach, I invite you to focus on the number of times you (I will include myself here) use the “I can’t” phrase.
What does this have to do with our work, our path? …
PART II began: I did not know the man, though I knew the national corporation.
Rather than discuss my shoe size with a list of questions clearly being trolled with multiple captioning and CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) offices (he confirmed this trolling, upon my request), I asked that he print the list and send the questions to me. Mr. IT Man quickly said, “I can’t.”
I paused and said softly, “Sir, you are clearly reading from a list. You are clearly asking me proprietary questions about my business. I’d like to clearly see your name on letterhead due to the nature of your specific questions, which you are entering into a computer.” (I could hear him typing. Yes, he confirmed that he was entering my information into a company database.) Again the IT Man said, “I can’t.”
I thanked him for the opportunity to work with the national company and assured him that he would find competent help with this service request. …
PART III: When we turn the “I can’t” phrase around and define our moments and our events with words that are powerful, we note differences in our world, our work, and our schooling. We do.
I want to invite you to note the frequency in which you (and perhaps individuals you work and live with) use this phrase.
My opinion is the focus in the phrase is similar to a focus with red cars (as an example).
When someone points out a specific red car, and we make a mental note of the red car, there ‘seem’ to be red cars everywhere.
Recently, while coaching and tutoring two individuals, I listened to the high-frequency “I can’t” phrase – a lot.
When I drew attention to the phrase, each stated, “It would be impossible to not use the wording.” Hmm.
I invited each, a professional, court reporter, CART provider, captioner, instructor, and a student, to place a dollar in a jar every time they avoided the phrase “I can’t” and to reward the moment for each opportunity where there was a focus and a shift.
Was this successful? Yes.
Each shared that their personal and professional world changed – within a short period of time – from this one simple focus.
One individual donated the money from the “I Can’t Dollar Jar” to a charity; the other purchased a coveted item as a reward.
Words have power. Words define who we are at the moment.
Court reporters, CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) providers and captioners are word people.
We are really, really good word people with sophisticated (finely-trained) disciplines.
“De-can’t the I can’t” and note the new moments and resourceful experiences that will begin to appear in realtime.
We have limitless choices with ‘huge’ potential.
Our choices then develop and unfold when we revise, amend, and modify our wording and our focus.
And what might you do with a “I Can’t Dollar Jar?” Oh, the possibilities … Happy Holidays.
Part I of III is posted November 14, 2010, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted December 2, 2010, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted December 15, 2010, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
—–Monette, named the Court Reporting Whisperer by students, may be reached: Monette.purplebooks@CRRbooks.com
Purple Books – Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com * Advance skills, pass NCRA and State exams the 1st time
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal, CART Captioner, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
Since 1990: Multiple Title Author of Books & Purple Books Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART Captioning Profession
An American RealTime/Captioning Services, LLC: www.ARTCS.com Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
Have you failed NCRA’s RPR, RDR, or a State exam? More than once? Purple Books “Done in One” has a 98% successful pass rate on exams with sets as evidenced by thousands of students and professionals who pass their RPR, CSR, and RDR exams on the first test. Testimonials: www.CRRbooks.com.
Reach Your Goals: http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29 Where do you want to go? Specific custom-designed guidance will efficiently assist you!
About Monette Benoit: As a 30+ year court reporter, CART captioner, author of NCRA and State test-prep material, instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and 225-homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands challenges many adults face in our industry.
In 1993, she began to CART caption to a large screen for a Deaf mass, San Antonio, Texas. Wonderful opportunities then presented from Big D, Little D, Oral Deaf, HOH consumers -each with special moments.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART captioners, students, instructors. She has helped to create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is an informative, motivational, and funny blog for busy professionals and students who seek to create their success and who seek to enjoy this special path.
15 Dec 2010