Learning Shorthand

mummyno4

I am looking to learn shorthand or Teenline I am a volunteer teachers assistant at a computer course and would like to be able to teach this to the students eventually. Has anyone any ideas where I could self teach or find a free course, I looked into college courses and thought they were a little expensive.

Thank you in advance


:T

mazinmouse

Re teaching yourself, have you tried getting books from library - to suss out what books are available. Started learning from books but ended up taking a secretarial course - one advantage over learning by self is that we were tested by the tutor. I found that aspect invaluable experience for taking the exams.

PasturesNew

I have taught shorthand, to one person who wanted to learn it quickly. To learn it I did a two year full-time secretarial college course, coming out with RSA I, II and III in Pitman 2000. I have speed certificates to 180wpm.

Teeline is easier to learn and it's used mostly by journalists. The speeds you can attain are generally slower, but it can be learnt quicker.

I've never ever seen a job vacancy for a shorthand teacher in all the 30 years I've been able to potentially do it. I expect it's a very limited marketplace for jobs, unless you live in a big city (which I haven't).

As for using it - I've temped many times and it's not a skill anybody wants these days. I have had 2-3 requests for one-day bookings at special case conferences, which I have declined as I can't go into a room full of strangers and do the shorthand and realise who said it and keep up with who they were, what they said - all at full talking speed - and using their own in-house acronyms and phraseology, talking over each other and in varying regional accents.

Apolonation

Just buy a dictophone?

Welshwoofs

I wouldn't bother personally. I got RSA 3 in shorthand many, many, many years ago and even in the couple of years I did secretarial work in the early 90s I was never once asked to use it. These days people use dictaphones or even type their own letters.

Deep_In_Debt

I did Pitman 2000 about 25 years ago and I used it once after I left college in my first job. Since then, I've just used audio or copy typing. Seems shorthand maybe a thing of the past.

mummyno4

Thank you all, I wanted this for my personal use only not for a job.. I am also a assistant secretary for a Community Centre and this is also voluntary, I would be able to use this skill when taking minutes within a meetings.

I just thought it would be easier lol Thanks again.

Wakey2008

Shorthand is pretty much a thing of the past except in legal reporting. As it stands it is illegal to take recording equipment into a British courtroom so shorthand is needed.

To my knowledge the only people these days that are required to have shorthand skills are journalists and even then it's not essential.

Deep_In_Debt

I take minutes but don't use shorthand. I've just learnt to write quickly and develop my own "shorthand".

anamenottaken

Wakey2008 wrote: »

Shorthand is pretty much a thing of the past except in legal reporting. As it stands it is illegal to take recording equipment into a British courtroom so shorthand is needed.

To my knowledge the only people these days that are required to have shorthand skills are journalists and even then it's not essential.

And that shorthand can be done with a Palantype machine rather than pen on paper.

Sazzyukrafc

I had to do Teeline shorthand as part of my Journalism degree, so I am qualified by the NCTJ to do it at 120wam. I have used it a handful of times since leaving university, so although it's a useful skill to have, I wouldn't say it would help anyone greatly. If you really want to learn, I'd recommend buying a book, there are many out there and would be a lot cheaper than going on a course.