Language Sample Collection

General tips on collecting a language sample

The best place to start Is the SUGAR website here, where you will find detailed videos on collecting a robust sample.  It's very Important to be sure you understand how to prepare your transcript according to the SUGAR guidelines, such as what you can omit, how to separate utterances, etc.  It's not complicated but It Is Important that It Is done they way they Indicate. 

Some of the most salient points of collecting your sample are: 

1. avoid questioning that results in one or two word responses.

2. get a 50 utterance sample, which Is surprisingly easy. 

3. you do NOT need to do the numbering, or separating clauses or morphemes by hand.  The calculator does all of this for you.  HOWEVER, do be sure you separate run-ons into separate utterances, eliminate repetitions, note unintelligible responses, etc. according to the SUGAR PROCEDURE guidelines. 

How I do it (using iPhone and a Mac)

1. turn on the "Voice Memos" app on the Iphone, or a a similar app on the android. 

2. get chatting with your student

3. try and say the student's first name In the first few seconds so you don't get samples mixed up. 

4. get about 6-10 minutes of a conversation recorded.  Soon you'll get a feel for how long It takes to get 50 utterances.

5. when done recording, put the child's Initials or first three letters of the name on the recording so you can find It later 

6. later when you want to do the calculations, open the voice memos app and click the three dots on the upper right of the recording you are working with. 

7. choose "Copy Transcript" and then paste It Into the notes app of your phone. 

8. from the notes app, choose send (the little box with the arrow pointing up) and send It to your computer via Airdrop (for macs).  

9. the transcript will appear In your notes (It normally pops up) on your computer.  Copy and paste it Into a Word document.  Now is a good time to you refer to the SUGAR site downloads, to look for TOOLS and finally SUGAR PROCEDURES for precise guidelines on how to prepare the transcript.  It becomes second nature after you've done It a few times, but Its critical that it is correct.  

10. remove all utterances except the student utterances.  This usually takes me three passes (listening to the voice recording to verify) to make sure I get It exactly right.  This is where you want to be very careful that you prepare the transcript according to the page that says LATEST SUGAR PROCEDURES.  One nice feature of the voice recording app Is that you can slow down or speed up the playback.  Slowing It down helps on the first pass for fast talkers, and the sped up version helps on the last pass to do It quickly and also you sometimes hear things you didn't hear the first few times. 

11. No need to do anything more to the transcript.  

12. Copy the final language sample and paste It Into the window on the calculator here.  

13. give it a few seconds and your results will appear. Take a screenshot of the table to insert Into your report.  More information on how to use it in your reports can be found here.  

Another way to do It

1. record your conversation with the student via your preferred method. 

2. later, open a Word doc, listen and write down only what the student has said, nothing else.

3. use the LATEST SUGAR PROCEDURES to prepare the transcript. 

4. copy and paste Into the calculator here.  

A third way to do it (recommended on the SUGAR site)

1. turn on your recorder as a precaution (that's just me talkin' to avoid tragedy!)

2. open a Word doc and type only what the child Is saying in real time. 

3. later, listen to the recording and make any corrections to your typed transcript.  

4. use the LATEST SUGAR PROCEDURES to prepare the transcript. 

5. copy and paste Into the calculator here.