(no subject)

[gategrrl]

Well, I've signed up at a semi-local community college for a review of what court reporting, captioning and other related jobs are like, and what the job opportunities are and what the college's coursework is. It starts in about a month, and I've paid up for it already. No books required at this point. It's not Theory. Theory is when you learn the finger moves and the shorthand system. Kind of like when we all learned how to type in high school. It's going to be a LOT of boring repetition, but I deal with that in daily life anyway.

I might drive down there this week to see what the drive is like, in case I decide not to do online coursework. I think I'd do better OUT of the house than IN the house trying not to be distracted. 

Comments

[tejas.livejournal.com]

I used to know a court reporter and it's apparently very good work. If you can tolerate it, because it *is* tedious.

On the other hand, you get to learn all sorts of juicy tid-bits that you can't tell anyone. If *knowing* stuff is more fun for you than *telling* stuff, this could be a dream job. :-)

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I get the feeling from all the research and reading I've been doing that you have to have a lot of concentration (listening to boring lawyers, etc) and toleration for sitting and *listening*.

IF it works out (we'll see) I think I'd head into closed captioning. At least then, you're exposed to television shows. There are also jobs where you can record lectures for deaf students and/or colleges.

I can see this coming in useful at conventions, for panels. It'd be very cool for conventions to offer transcripts of panels for attendees or those who *wanted* to attend, but couldn't.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Don't forget sporting and other live events, too.

Some big cons also have closed circuit tv running for some events (WorldCon often does that for the Hugos on Saturday night since everyone can't fit in the venue ;-).

Universities are *great* places to work, she says sitting here in her 20th year. ;-)

Even in legal work, there's still depositions and such that can be easier than actual trial work, but still pay very well.

[writing-saga.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, best of luck!

My mom worked for a court reporter when I was young. She typed up the court reporters notes because she could read shorthand.

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

There's actually a job that matches your mother's job - it's not called Transcription, but Scopist. A Scopist proofs and compiles the reporter's notes into a readable paper.

The various court reporter associations have tried VERY hard to change their image from one of a type of secretary to a really professional job. It's hard as heck to get the California Certificate. Very few people get that far, and even fewer pass the test. Yikes!

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Oh good luck!

[karendreamer.livejournal.com]

That is so cool. What a good idea. You get to learn about it without a huge commitment. Yay You!

[aizjanika.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a good way to check it out. I think working on closed captioning sounds especially interesting. Who would then type it out for the screen after? I wonder how that works.

One of lyraeinne's friends came over the other day (well, she and her husband and her dad, because they're all friends) and she told me she's doing an online school for medical transcription. That appeals to me because you can sometimes work from home. Our local community college also offers certification in this as well. I'm considering it, but then I wonder if it might squick me, because of all the medical stuff.

I think I'd do better OUT of the house than IN the house trying not to be distracted.

Yeah, that can be difficult. I think I'd still prefer online classes for myself, but I'm home alone a lot now so my circumstances are different--and I still get easily distracted. What I like about the online courses is that I can do them at night or just whenever I feel like it.