Learning to be a Scopist

[Jim Vowell]

I've been a court reporter for 34 years and always used a scopist. However, most of the scopists I've used have been self-taught. My daughter has decided she would like to learn to scope because she has small children and could work at home and eliminate daycare. Can someone please tell me the best way for her to proceed, i.e., schooling, etc.? She does not read steno, but with today's technology, I've noticed a lot of scopists don't.

Thanks,

Jim

[D. Roberts]

Dear Jim,

I think that your daughter will love scoping. I provide a comprehensive scoping training program, and if you would like to contact me privately for that information, I would be happy to pass the information your way.
Feel free to contact me at [e-mail].
I began training scopists nearly a year ago and was surprised to get students from other training programs because they felt they were not ready. That is why I began the scoping intern program last November. Learning the steno language is included in the Scoping Made Affordable training program, is based upon the StenEd Theory and is relatively easy to learn.

Feel free to check out the training information online at:
http://www.joyfulscoping.com/SMATraining.html.

My students have really enjoyed the conference calls which enables them to get close contact with the instructor (me) and have also really enjoyed having them recorded so that I simply send them the audio file if they weren't able to attend it.
I work with the students in an in-depth manner in learning their CAT program of which they may choose. I let my students decide which CAT program they want to purchase.

I also provide a comprehensive scoping exam which shows me the evidence of their listening and editing skills throughout their scoping so I know they can catch the small details in scoping. This feedback is critical to scopists being successful in this field.

Feel free to let me know when you have additional questions.

Sincerely,
Ms. Devon Roberts
www.joyfulscoping.com
[e-mail]

[Judy]

Devon,

I'm curious. How long have you been a scopist?

[D. Roberts]

Since November of 2006. After a very bumpy start and through the help of others, I was able to keep and maintain court reporters since the fall of 2007.

Sincerely,
Ms. Devon Roberts
www.joyfulscoping.com
[e-mail]

[Judy]

So you're a newbie! Congrats on your entry into the scoping field.

[Rebecca Blasco]

Jim. I'm sorry, but skip scoping school. YOU are a court reporter, and that means that YOU are the best teacher she can have. I started scoping when I was 14, scoping for my mom and sister and brother. I didn't take long to learn, I couldn't read notes, but I had audio backup. By the time I was 15 I could read quite a bit of notes, which helped me get through court reporting school quicker, because I already understood the whole lingo thing. I did report for awhile, got CTS and quit. I went right back to scoping.

The point is, Dad, if you're not reporting anymore, or can't afford to take the time to "hire" her for some on-the-job intensive training, then what you can do is give her some of your older stuff, stuff that's already turned in. Retran it, give it to her and tell her to get after it. Print it off and redline it and she will learn very quickly.

I have taught many friends how to scope. I start off by teaching them the goals of a scopist, how it works, train them on the computer, etc., all the while teaching them some key words and phrases in steno, etc., that will help them until they can do it on their own. It doesn't take long, and It's the best at-home mommy job a person could have because it absolutely enables you to work when you want for a decent wage, and frankly, crime, grime and slime is a growth industry, especially nowadays.

In short, Encourage her to go for gold in scoping and give her some of your older stuff to start on. While I'm really glad to see schools for scoping, not everyone can afford them. And if scoping is not something for you, you've spent a lot of money to find out you don't want to do it. Working on some of your older stuff enables her to both learn and see how she'll do with it, without taking money out of her baby's mouth.

She can call me if she has any questions. I'm always happy to encourage someone :-)

[Cathy McElderry - Internet Scoping School]

Jim -

I just wanted to post a quick note and point you in the direction of our website at www.scopeschool.com. Internet Scoping School has been training scopists for over 10 years and we cover every aspect of being a dependable professional scopist. We provide a basic skills test for all potential scopists in order to help them determine their skill level and whether scoping would be a good option for them. We don't want to have someone pay for schooling if it is something they are not going to be able to succeed at. Feel free to check out the information available and if you or your daughter have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at [e-mail].

Thanks!
Cathy
Director - Internet Scoping School