Cherith, Amanzimtoti
Our Listener – Cherith, Amanzimtoti
“Finding purpose, peace, and presence – one transcript at a time.“
For Cherith, transcription began as a practical choice and grew into a quiet calling. Living in the coastal town of Amanzimtoti, she was looking for a way to combine her love of the English language with the independence of working from home. At the time, she was beginning to care for her mother and needed something that would allow her to balance responsibility with personal fulfilment. When she came across Way With Words through a comment on social media, it struck a chord. The idea of working with words while shaping meaning and precision felt right. “It was the perfect fit,” she says. “Now I get to do what I love every day… from my home office, with my dogs and cats keeping me company.”
Over the past twelve years, transcription has become woven into her daily life. Her workspace is peaceful, punctuated by the soft presence of pets and the quiet hum of a computer. The work itself, she says, has taught her the value of patience and focus. Every recording demands her full attention, and each transcript represents more than just typed words; it captures tone, inflection, and intent. Cherith finds satisfaction in knowing that what she produces helps others, whether it’s researchers, journalists, doctors, or families, make sense of what was said. For her, accuracy is an act of respect.
Outside of work, Cherith’s world is grounded in faith, family, and small joys. Her days often revolve around her mother, husband, and niece, with their menagerie of pets completing the household. She laughs easily about the chaos that comes with caring for animals and people alike. In the garden, she finds stillness by watching birds, sipping coffee, and listening to the world around her. She has an appetite for stories in all forms, whether in the pages of a novel, a good television series, or the countless voices she hears through her transcription work. Learning new things keeps her mind alive. “My faith keeps me centred,” she adds, “and working from home gives me the time and space to live by it.”
Cherith believes that human transcribers bring something to the process that no machine can replicate: empathy. “There are so many recordings where people talk over each other or speak with strong accents,” she explains. “Software just can’t get it right. Taking the time to really listen and capture the nuances makes all the difference.”
It’s this ability to understand not just what’s being said but how it’s being said that gives the human touch its weight. The pauses, the sighs, the unspoken emotions, these subtleties can change meaning entirely. Cherith sees her work as preserving the integrity of those moments.
Some of the recordings she’s worked on over the years have stayed with her long after they were completed. Research interviews about cancer, Alzheimer’s, and mental health have deeply resonated with her own experiences and those of her loved ones.
“Listening carefully to people’s experiences has touched me and offered insight into challenges I’ve faced,” she says. “It’s incredible to see how transcription allows me to connect with these stories, honour the speakers’ voices, and reflect on my own journey at the same time.” There’s an unspoken kinship in listening, a shared humanity that reaches across the audio.
When asked what makes a great transcriber or editor, Cherith comments thoughtfully. It’s not about speed, she insists, but about understanding. “A great transcriber is someone who really listens, not just types. You have to catch the details, understand the context, and make sure the speaker’s true voice comes through.” For her, curiosity and a love of language are essential companions to precision. The satisfaction lies in transforming fragments of sound into coherent, readable stories. It’s a craft that rewards patience and offers purpose.
After more than a decade with Way With Words, Cherith still finds joy in the work. Each new project brings fresh insight into human experiences and the infinite ways people communicate. “Every recording is a little story waiting to be uncovered,” she notes. “I get a kick out of helping people’s voices shine through clearly and accurately.”
It’s this sense of purpose – part discipline, part devotion – that continues to guide her days. In a world often driven by speed, Cherith has built a life around attentive listening, faith, and care. And in every transcript she completes, there’s a quiet echo of the same principle: that words, when truly heard, can bring understanding.
Our Company – Way With Words
Way With Words provides high-quality transcription, captioning, and speech data services to clients worldwide. Our team of professional contractors, like Cherith, brings human accuracy and care to every project, ensuring that every voice is heard and understood.