THE TEACHER'S CORNER: Spring 2008
Submitted by Laqueta
Soule, CRI, CPE
Chattanooga State
Technical Community College
Have you ever had those pesky little vowel problems? Think back to elementary school: Did you learn to read using the phonics method or was it by sight or memorization? If you did not learn by phonics, you may have trouble "hearing" vowel sounds.
And as we know, steno is based on phonics. Many students struggle with long and short vowels. Or it could be that you hear the sound but your thumbs just won't work together with your brain! Yep, we've all been there.
Whatever the reason, here are a few suggestions for working on vowels: Start a journal or diary. Each day in class, the lab, and at home practicing, write down the words you missed due to an incorrect vowel. Maybe you wrote "injure" instead of "injury" or “them” instead of “theme.”
After a few days, you should start to see a pattern. It may be your long and short "u" sounds. You may start noticing that you are consistently hitting the wrong "u." Since you now have a list of these problem words and sounds, make up some little word drills. Practice them every day. Say the words out loud so you can hear them and then write them in steno. Really concentrate on the sounds of the words.
If you have a finger exercise book, go through the book and highlight the drills that include your problem vowels. It will take time but eventually you will start hearing the sounds and after practicing over and over again, your thumbs will know which vowels to hit!
Another suggestion: If you are really struggling, check out "Hooked on Phonics" -- yes, the series of books and tapes that kids use. It will help with long and short vowels, even diphthongs -- "oi" and "au" -- who thought up the word “diphthong” anyway? A used bookstore, such as McKay's, might be a good place to check for reasonable priceson “Hooked on Phonics.”
Hang in there! You will conquer the vowel problem. The first step is identifying your problem. Then be patient and work at fixing it!
