Shorthand / Speedwriting

Is it not possible to just tape the meeting and play it back on audio?

I did Teeline at school then at an evening class.

https://teelineshorthand.org/default.aspx just googled for this, to give you an example.

I've never used it in a job. I'll probably need to go and do some more practice.

This is a possibility but the company do not have a dictaphone/similar so would need to buy one just for me. If its the best way to go they will do that but they do try to "add strings to employess bows" so to speak so are more than happy to pay for a course which would be useful in the future.

Just thinking that if I got a book to start with I would know whether the course was worth it. If its not and I really can't pick it up they'll get me a dictaphone.

I did Pitmans at college many moons ago and have never really used it. When I take minutes now - at Board meetings usually with around 30 participants - I have got really good at speed writing and at only capturing the relevant points, rather than trying to write it all down word for word.

When I was learning Pitmans though, I found that the more practice I did, the easier it was....so taking dictation down from the TV - say a news broadcast or something - or the radio was more real time talking as opposed to classroom learning.

If I was unsure, I would definitely record it and take down notes and then marry the two up together. But if work is offering to pay for you to learn a new skill, and you are happy to do so, then I would jump at the offer. As a PA opportunities to expand your skillset are few and far between to be honest!

I learned teeline shorthand on my secretarial course a fair few years ago - as I recall it's loosely based on actual letter shapes and I think I found it quite easy to pick up as a result.

I could do 100 wpm by the time I left college and used it all the time for the first few years I was working. I have no call to use it now, but can still remember bits 10+ years on.

I think if shorthand is the way you think you might go, teeline would be a better option that pitman.....

I've never learned proper shorthand but have done a lot of minute taking and use bullet points a lot combined with some shorthand type notation / abreviations. Most meetings don't need anything approaching an exact transcript, many of my minutes just say "discussion followed".

However as your work wil lpay I'd do a course just to add to your skills. Can't help with what one though.

I did Teeline at college too (for journalism) and although I never picked it up to speed I use certain symbols when interviewing combined with speed-writing. I also write more in bullet points rather than word-for-word as mentioned by someone else.

Using a dictaphone would take ages.

I did teeline too, I found it quite easy to pick up and twenty years on can remember it, some word lists on here

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38&_nkw=teeline

and alphabet here

http://www.onlineshorthand.com/shorthand.htm

hth Em x

Thanks for all the replies, Teeline looks as if its the popular one. I'll have a read up on the links posted.

Edited to say thanks for all the minute taking tips too, its quite a daunting thing when you have no idea what everyone is talking about in the meeting so any tips are gratefully received!