ESL Help

Most of the time, when a doctor says a phrase or sentence or whatever very very fast, it is something he/she says all the time.  Someone somewhere in your company or at the client knows what the doc is saying...find out, write it down, make a normal of it as you will definitely hear it over and over.

With time, you will realize which dialects cannot pronounce certain letters.  You will be able to fill in the letters or sounds that are missing...with practice.

A lot of the time, basic English words are what you will be stumped on, not long multi-syllabic medical terminology.  Relax and those words will come to you.

Check the context of the words you are having trouble with.  That will give you a clue, try to figure what an English speaking doc would be saying there.  Remember, again, that it may be plain English words he/she is not pronouncing quite right.

If you feel like you just cannot get it, take a break.  Go play with the dog...watch TV...make a cup of coffee....eat a dozen doughnuts.....whatever, but get your mind off the doc and his dictation.  Just a few minutes can do it.  Then come back and play it.  Often it will just be as plain as day after taking a break.  I cannot count the times this has worked for me. 

If all else fails, leave a blank.  Get QA feedback.  If possible, listen to the voice and read the corrected report at the same time (that is a GREAT help).

Last, and you may think I am nuts but I do this every time I have a hard, new ESL doc to transcribe.....ask to have at least 5 of his/her reports assigned to you (chances are that work flow will be MORE THAN HAPPY to give you as many of his/her reports as you want!!!)  Maybe with the first report you will not be able to understand a phrase but by the fifth report I would bet you will be able to fill in many of the blanks you had in the first report.

Good luck.  ESL specialists are in demand and can command a higher cpl as we are valuable to a service.

• Any tips on learning a new hospital that has a lot of ESLs. I have done some but not to this extent. - PAMT
  • Don't give up. Keep on truckin. Finally after 8 yrs. on same acct. I have the ESLs down to a tee. - Lyn
  • I agree with mac. You might want to buy a BIG bottle of Excedrin before starting but the more you - Sherry
    • How long would you say it takes to get a decent grip on them. I do have samples already I have read - MTPA
      • Who are you working for????(nm) - mac
        • Just a very small private company. nm - MTPA
  • ESL Help - mac
    • Please point me to a company that pays more - Wannie
      • Look at... - mac
  • Good luck! - :)

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