Course Code : TL – Liz K.

Teeline Shorthand Course

36 hours duration

OBJECTIVE: At the end of the course, the learners will:

• Understand the basic theory of Teeline shorthand
• Be able to write their own notes in Teeline shorthand using the theory learned, and
• Be able to transcribe their own or other writer’s Teeline shorthand notes.

COURSE CONTENT:

• the Teeline alphabet 
• joining letters to form words 
• vowels and consonants
• word beginnings and endings 
• shortcuts and blending words 
• word groupings 
• writing Teeline 
• writing figures and dates

Throughout the course, supplementary exercises and vocabulary in the form of worksheets are given.

DURATION: 36 hours – which can be run in various ways

Eg - 12 X three-hour sessions once a week – 12 weeks
       12 X three-hour sessions twice a week – 6 weeks 
       18 x two-hour sessions twice a week – 9 weeks

NB. However, there needs to be sufficient time to do 6 – 8 hours of homework between sessions.

Teeline Shorthand

The Teeline Shorthand system was devised by James Hill, an instructor of Pitman shorthand, over 25 years ago in England, and is a simple and logical method of writing or note taking which is many times faster than ordinary longhand handwriting. It is simpler and quicker to learn than Pitman’s shorthand and is a very flexible system, as it is based on your own handwriting. Teeline shorthand is the only shorthand system recognised for the Institute of Journalist examinations in the UK.

Once mastered, this is an invaluable skill which can be used for any note taking activity – in the business environment, for those who have to take minutes, secretaries, journalists or students who have to take notes in lectures and seminars. It is quicker and easier to transcribe Teeline notes than to find your place on a tape recording.

The course: This course is an introduction to the Teeline shorthand system. It can be covered in a total of 36 hours of instruction which can be run either in one or two sessions a week. At least 30 minutes each day, or 6 – 8 hours of homework is needed between sessions. This has to be daily practice, as it has been found that doing all the work the day before class is not effective.

In the first hour of the first session, you will be introduced to the Teeline alphabet, and by the end of the session you will be able to write simple words. At the end of the second session you will be able to read and write simple sentences in Teeline.

Thereafter, the course continues with theory on strokes, placement of outlines, vowels, shortforms (special outlines) and phrases or word groupings which will enable you to write faster.

When you complete the course you will understand the basic theory behind the shorthand system, and will be able to both write Teeline and transcribe your own or other writer’s notes. You can then further develop the speed at which you write with further classes.

You will need

• A textbook “Teeline Fast” by Ann Dix – published by Heinemann and available from Exclusive books at www.exclusivebooks.co.za
• An Irish lined exercise book (A4 size)
• A notebook for class notes
• An A5 hard cover book with alphabetical divisions
• A clutch pencil and spare leads or a fine pen, which will write clearly and move over the paper easily.