But How Do I Know?

Copyright 2006 by Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.

Each day I receive e-mails from multiple individuals through www.CATapultdix.com, my CATapult CD and book website and www.ARTCS.com, my CART court reporting site.

Often, the messages weave around a theme. As a teacher, CART provider and court reporter, I thank each person for writing and work to help where I may.  Try as I might to answer all requests, as I have for many, many years, another arrives from one more person seeking information.  

The questions arriving now primarily evolve around: “How do I know when I can CART?”

Ninety-nine percent do not contain information I will reply: “Are you a student or working reporter?”  Many people who are now writing these questions are students, many enrolled in low speeds. Some are working reporters who do not yet share realtime skills at work. But their questions always contain the words when and speed.  “When will I know; what speed do I need to provide CART?”

Students do not provide official transcripts until trained as professional judicial reporters.  Professionals seeking to share CART skills must prepare for speakers who will discuss varieties of topics involving rapid names, numbers, foreign language terms, slang – often many words require instant fingerspelling.  

CART providers know they have two to three seconds to consider if a word is in their dictionary and how to write the word or fingerspell that particular word to ensure accurate translation as speakers continue to speak.  This is a skill one must cultivate.

I authored a CART FAQ series “Falling On Deaf Ears” Part I – VII, June 2001 - September 2002.  These articles may be accessed through NCRA online archives and www.CATapultdix.com.  

Detailed answers to multiple questions which students and reporters now are seeking are addressed within my seven articles.
CARTWheel’s recommendations may be studied: http://www.cartwheel.cc/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=4&POSTNUKESID=cceab6597ecf718a43ace0258c330e34

When I forward CART inquiry emails to peers, people I respect, wondering if perhaps there is something I am missing which should be included, my friends promptly hammer back:

How large is their dictionary? Size is important, but knowledge of their dictionary is essential. Do they have a realtime theory?  Can they hook-up to a screen?  Are they going to write onsite or remote?  Do they know their software?  Are they certified; if so, with what?  (I know people who grade NCRA test papers; they share CRR and RMR applicants -260 word per minute, wpm, Q&A - may pass the 260 wpm test and earn certification, but do not have notes to CART.  “How do they know this,” I then ask?  Graders read all notes grading each test.)

Experienced CART providers ask me to inquire:  What training have you had?  Did you have a mentor?  What’s your translation rate?  Are you charging for your work?  Are you a steno writer or voice writer?  Each needs to hone prefix, root word and suffixes within their skill and craft.

But the question I receive day after day is:  “What speed do I need to be at to begin providing CART?” I sent this verbatim request to experienced CART providers.  

One reply: “There are MINIMUM speeds for literary – a 180 – but I believe one should write 200 wpm on literary to do a good job providing CART.  Two-voice at 225 wpm is essential, as well, for panel-member discussions often required for CART assignments – rapid-fire back-and-forth discussions.  You ask a very generation question.  You NEED speed.”

Another responded: “It's not just speed that makes one eligible to be a CART provider.  I grade CRR exams.  I have many Merit speed writers who I wouldn't even consider ready to provide CART.  A reporter should be writing 200 wpm and able to pass the state exam in their area.”

Several states now require passing a state CART exam to provide these services.  NCRA CART’s Community of Interest and CARTWheel, an experienced group of CART providers, share a wealth of information on their web sites, each contains specifics. Each NCRA convention conducts seminars, workshops that address CART, as do many state conventions. NCRA schedules a networking time for CART providers and one for captioners.  Get involved.

Gather where experienced professionals will be delighted to share with you.  And you meet wonderful people you will thank God for having crossed your path.  I promise.

I encourage anyone considering CART to thoroughly do your homework before you share a screen or skill where someone (or multiple people) will need your verbatim, finely-tuned skills.

My personal opinion to why this question is being asked so frequently again is that a sufficient period of time has passed where one might not have read “Falling On Deaf Ears.”  

If you know someone considering CART, whether they are in school or are a working reporter, please share a plethora of material has already been developed to assist people to seek their goal.  Many professionals have dedicated countless hours to developing material, guidelines and recommendations to further assist anyone entering the field of CART.  

When you are groomed, prepped, have refinement of your dictionary, can fingerspell and handle multiple vital topics – all essential before when and how fast do I need to write –  then you are ready.

Deaf and HOH, hard of hearing, are challenged each day.  If you want to provide CART, prepare to be an asset. You enrolled in a court reporting program because you wanted to excel in this occupation.  Completion of a program ensures you earned the discipline to complete theory, academics and speed-building classes.  

And I must end with two questions that are hardly asked, which I wish would be asked and researched:  

1.  Should I learn Deaf and HOH sensitivity issues working with people experiencing varying degrees of hearing loss?   
2. Should I learn basic sign language?  

The answer to the two questions I wish would be asked:  “Yes.”

Monette may be reached:  Tutoring@ CRRbooks.com

About the Author:
Monette Benoit, B.B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, is a JCR Contributing Editor for the National Court Reporters Association, NCRA, author of multiple books to include the state and national CSR, RPR, RMR ‘Written Knowledge Exam’ textbook, workbook, study guide, ‘CRRT WKT’ CD and the ‘CATapult Your Dictionary’ CD series. Books, CDs and articles may be referenced www.CRRbooks.com

Monette is a consultant, real-time court reporter and CART provider. She teaches, tutors and coaches home-study students and professionals. Monette speaks to groups at state, national and international conventions about motivation, technology, expanding skills and Deaf, Oral Deaf, Hard of Hearing.

Monette may be reached at: www.CATapultdix.com, www.CRRbooks.com and www.ARTCS.com