to Learn Steno -- comparison of theories -- methods

[leeo]

About three years ago, I decided to commense a study of stenography.  I found a used stentura-200 on e-bay, which cam with a method book.  The stentura-200 is an older mechanical model, and the method book was for the Sten-Ed theory.  I investigated the theories then available and decided on the Phoenix theory, currently published by Stenograph.  My reasoning:

 

Phoenix is currently the most rule-consistent theory -- that is the number of exceptions to master is deliberately kept to a minimum.

 

I round a used method again on E-bay, which has 23 cassette tapes, the method book, and various refrense material.  By now I'm about $500 into the project.

 

I studied consistently the first year, but found the older tapes to be awkward to use as a study aid.  Thus I recorded all the tapes into my computer (ripped them) into mp3's.

 

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Having first learned Gregg shorthand several generations ago, I decided to translate that method into Phoenix theory.  The exercise has been an interesting one.  I thought that exposing Phoenix theory to this audience might be helpful.  However I cannot recommend my translations as a learning method -- I find I have to make too many changes.  I would strongly recommend students get the actual manual and materials from Stenograph, should they want to adopt Phoenix Theory.

 

If the student is multilingual, or has studied another system of shorthand before, I recommend Phoenix Theory.  Most other languages are far more spelling

consistent than English, and Phoenix Theory is the only one that I see on the market that doesn't rely on a knowledge of English spelling.  --Lee

 

[Mirabai Knight]

 

If the student is multilingual, or has studied another system of shorthand before, I recommend Phoenix Theory.  Most other languages are far more spelling

consistent than English, and Phoenix Theory is the only one that I see on the market that doesn't rely on a knowledge of English spelling.  --Lee

 

I agree with this. I'm a good speller, so I really like using a theory that differentiates words based on spelling. The Phoenix method of putting in a conflict resolution stroke is more cumbersome, but definitely useful if you don't want to rely on spelling differences to differentiate between words.