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This is an extract of our Lesson 1. Some parts of this lesson may be slightly different from the online lesson and is intended to be an example of how our lessons are set out, with examples of worksheets, exercises, dictations etc.,
This lesson covers the Teeline alphabet and how to join letters together. You will learn some short forms called 'special outlines'. These are easier ways of writing outlines that occur regularly in the English language. There are quite a few in each lesson and the more you learn the quicker you'll be able to write. However, once you've learnt the very common ones, you can be selective and learn only those you think you'll use regularly. It's better to learn a few that will come to mind automatically than learn lots, not so well.
This lesson includes exercises, drills, a quiz and videos to help learn this part of the theory. Do not feel you need to do everything. They are there so you have a variety of learning tools and choice. However, you should complete the three-part assignment at the bottom of the page as this consolidates all the theory in the lesson and tests your transcription ability and speed before you move on to the next lesson.
The suggested timetable below will enable you to complete this lesson in 1 week. This is purely optional, you can, of course, work to your own timescales.
Target:
By the end of Lesson One you should be able to write the letters of the alphabet, including additional 'combination characters', and the special outlines, quickly and easily from memory.
As mentioned before, unnecessary vowels and consonants are omitted and words can still be read easily. The gist of the sentence will help. A vowel that is sounded at the beginning and end of a word must be written.
Now try Exercise 1.
The following passage includes only the essential vowels. See how quickly you can read it:
U shld b abl t rd ths wth a lt o vwls tkn out. Ths is hw Tln is frmd by usng a qkr wa o rting th alfbt. U cn us a pn or pncl to rt Tln, tho a pn is btr as it flws acrs th pg esly n wnt brk. Hwvr, u ma us wtvr u fl mst cmfrtabl wth.
You should be able to read this with a lot of vowels taken out. This is how Teeline is formed by using a quicker way of writing the alphabet. You can use a pen or pencil to write Teeline, though a pen is better as it flows across the page easily and won"t break. However, you must use whatever you feel most comfortable with.
Teeline letters are taken from the longhand letters either capital or small versions. They keep the same positions as in longhand at the beginning of a word i.e. G, J, P and Q go through the line and T is written on or just above the line representing the cross stroke of a capital T. Other letters are placed on the line.
Teeline letters are the same sizes as in longhand. Vowels are smaller than the consonants. There are two versions of each vowel called the full vowel and the indicator. Vowels will be covered in more detail later and are used in this lesson only for special outlines.
The arrow next to the letters shows the direction they should be written. Sometimes, two versions of the same letter are shown. The first version is more common and the second is used to make it easier to join to other letters.
Now have a look at the first half of the alphabet.
Here is Alison with a demonstration on writing the alphabet - part 1.
Here they are written in order:
The worksheets are designed to help you write fluently and quickly in Teeline and learn the new letters. You need to copy the printed Teeline directly onto the worksheet as smoothly as you can, saying the letter or letters over in your mind as you write.
Before you begin Worksheet One, familiarise yourself with the alphabet. Complete the worksheet and then test yourself again to see if you know the alphabet thoroughly.
You can download the worksheets by clicking on the image and sending it to a printer. If you do not have a printer available, copy the worksheet on to lined paper, leaving spare lines below (about 3 extra lines) to write your own Teeline.
Print or copy the following worksheet and practice writing the alphabet in Teeline by copying on to the rows below.
The following recording tests your knowledge of the alphabet. See how quickly you can recall the Teeline letters, without looking. First in order and then randomly.
Now you have completed the dictation, read or transcribe into longhand the letters you've just written. Circle any letters you're unsure of. Replay the dictation to check if you have transcribed the dictation correctly. Drill the letters you didn't know a number of times so that you can remember them. Then try the dictation again.
Here is a demonstration on writing the second half of the alphabet.
Here they are written in order:
When you have familiarised yourself with the second half of the alphabet complete Worksheet 2, filling in the three lines. As with Worksheet One, once you have completed it test yourself to see if you know the alphabet thoroughly.
Here's a dictation of the second half of the alphabet. As before, in order first and then mixed up.
As before, read over your outlines and make sure you know the second part of the alphabet well.
Alison explains the different sizes of the Teeline letters.
Whenever possible, letters are written in one stroke without lifting the pen. The first letter is usually written in its correct position and the following letters always retain their original size and shape.
In this dictation, you are going to be joining letters. Try to do it first time without taking your pen off the paper. If you do hesitate, stop the recording and write each letter separately and then try joining them. When you've finished, see what words the combinations make.
This part of the lesson is only available in the paid version - you will need to register to view it.
Now that you've completed the dictation, check the outlines with the lesson theory and correct any errors and try the dictation again.
More combinations:
Forming words - letters that are not sounded are omitted:
When a double letter occurs, only one is represented:
Sizes: To demonstrate the correct sizes of 'u', 'o' indicator and 'w', imagine a cup, saucer and plate:
See how quickly you can recognise the following letters:
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Here is a demonstration on combining characters.
Common letter combinations are represented by the following Teeline characters:
'cm' - It would be difficult to join 'c' and 'm' so a Teeline 'c' is written as wide as M to represent 'cm':
'cn' - Another difficult joining would be 'c' and 'n'. In Teeline, the 'n' is reversed to represent 'c'-vowel-'n'
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'sh' - This is a special sign joined to other letters and used to represent the word 'shall':
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'pl' - when 'l' follows 'p' with no vowels in between, a Teeline 'l' is written through the line to represent 'p' followed immediately by 'l':
This part of the lesson is only available in the paid version - you will need to register to view it.
Here are some combinations using joined letters 'ch' 'th' 'wh' and sh which don't forget is a longhand 's'.
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Now you have completed the dictation, see if you can read the outlines you've written and correct any errors. Redo the dictation if you'd like.
Remind yourself of the special combinations 'cm' and 'cn' and try these words:
Now you have completed the dictation, see if you can read the outlines you've written and correct any errors. Redo the dictation if you'd like.
Read the following words. Write them in longhand and then without looking, write them again in Teeline.
This part of the lesson is only available in the paid version - you will need to register to view it.
1. chain/chin
2. blame
3. view
4. manager
5. paper/pepper
6. stop/step/steep
7. claim/calm/clam
8. make
9. time/team/tame
10. mud/made
11.bear/bar/beer
12. neighbour
Now to consolidate the alphabet, try these words containing all the letters covered
Now you have completed the dictation, go back and transcribe into longhand what you have just written. Circle any words you are unsure of. Replay the dictation to check if you have transcribed the dictation correctly. The words you were unsure of - drill them a number of times so that you can remember them. Then try the dictation again.
The letter 'l' can be written upwards, but never at the beginning of a word. It is usually used after a stroke that is written downwards so that it doesn't reach the line below. It is easier to write 'l' upwards after 'm', 'n', 'h' and 'p'.
After writing 'l' upwards, the letters 't' and 'd' are disjoined see the illustration below for examples:
This part of the lesson is only available in the paid version - you will need to register to view it.
Here are the first of the special outlines. These are commonly used words that are represented by a short cut in Teeline. You must learn them thoroughly by drilling as you do with the worksheets. Keep revising them as you go through the course and learn new ones. The more you know, the faster you will be able to write.
This part of the lesson is only available in the paid version - you will need to register to view it.
See how quickly you can take down the special outlines.
Now you have completed the dictation, go back read the special outlines you've written. Circle any words you are unsure of. Replay the dictation to check if you have transcribed the words correctly then try the dictation again. Once you have learnt the special outlines, try exercises four and five.
See how easily you can read the following sentences:
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Now try these dictated sentences. See how you would write the following words first and drill them a few times before listening to the recording:
clothes, parcel, behind, contact, manager, compare, select, best
Now you have completed the dictation, go back and transcribe into longhand what you've just written. Circle any words you are unsure of. Replay the dictation to check if you have transcribed the dictation correctly. Any words you were unsure of - drill them a few times so that you can remember them. Then try the dictation again.
See how quickly you can recognise the following special outlines':
This part of the lesson is only available in the paid version - you will need to register to view it.
See how quickly you can read the special outlines.
A long diagonal line is used for a full stop - it can be written either upwards or downwards.
Nouns are shown by two dashes below the word, just to show it's a name so not necessary at the beginning of a sentence:
By the end of Lesson 1, you should be able to:
Teeline is personal and flexible. You may decide that you don't want to write the outlines exactly as shown. For example, you may wish to include vowels for clarity and make up your own short cuts. We will use a mixture of outlines with and without the vowels throughout the lessons. Remember of course, that the special outlines are optional - it's better to learn a few very well, rather than lots that take the time to remember when you're taking dictation at speed.
Some of our levels include the option for you to submit assignments to our tutor for assessment and feedback.
These pieces test your reading. You need only submit the longhand. You can choose one piece to send in or submit both.
A1:
A2:
Remember - you only need to submit just the longhand transcription of this assignment
These pieces test your transcription into Teeline. You need only submit the Teeline. You can choose one piece to send in or submit both.
Be careful with the word 'when' - it needs the 'h'.
B1:
B2:
This final piece is a dictation and will test your ability to write at speed and read back your own Teeline shorthand. If the Teeline is not perfect, it doesn't matter, as long as you've transcribed it accurately.
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