Spurt-Ability, Part I of III
Spurt-Ability, Part I of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
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?
We test at a minimum of 95 percent in each class for our stenographic skills. Many programs test higher to 97 – 98 percent. And on the job? Much higher, we all know.
I have found great success working with students, court reporters, CART providers, and captioners and the focus on the “testing angle.”
My opinion is that many of us are focused (we are) on how do I just write it fast, faster, and fastest?
Many have been known to say, “I’ll learn how to write that (word) when I … Just tell me how to pass that test.”
And once individuals, students, CART providers, captioners, and working court reporters pass their tests and their certifications, I hear, “Now what do I do? They’re going to want to look at my notes while I write.”
I listen and softly say, “Yes, that is now pretty much part of the plan.”
Laughter is a frequent response to my “What are you thinking?”
So what is spurt-ability? It is a word I made up. (Just like doctors and expert witnesses make up words and then swear it really is a word.) I use this term I made up to focus upon a mindshift.
When we are in court, providing CART, captioning, testing, and writing any faster-than-heck speaker, we have to have the ability to come up from behind. We do.
We are trained with specific finely tuned skills to “come up from behind” when a speaker picks up speed.
Spurt-ability is my term for the mindshift when the speaker speaks fast — and we are just about to slip behind the cadence of the speaker (think medical terminology, technical terms, fingerspelling, building words on the fly that we know are not in our dictionary, unusual words, acronyms, new “made-up words” and that fast speaker).
As part of my court reporting (survival skills here), I learned to actually lean into the steno machine and would ride the words — similar to a piano player who is simply playing a faster note before the music slows its tempo. That is how I wrote when I was a student and a new court reporter.
As a working court reporter, I learned to avoid the actual leaning-into-the-wind posture (people often asked about it; hence, I worked to stop the physical exertion) and worked to use (only) body movement using wrists to the fingertips. Writing in spurts was how I managed to keep up with fast people, new words, expert witnesses, individuals with accents, and competitors for the fastest-lips-in-the west contest.
Part I of III is posted February 5, 2014, www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted February 15, 2014, www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted February 28, 2014, 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
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* 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!