Learning steno (machine shorthand) is difficult in and of itself, not to mention that the required speed necessary to graduate the program is 225 words per minute. For some students, the steno language just doesn't make sense to them.

How long does it take to learn stenography?

To write text for personal use, such as writing emails and instant messages, you could learn basic steno at ~40WPM within 3–6 months. To productively use steno to write most text at under 100WPM, it might take 6–18 months.

Is steno worth learning?

Steno is an unparalleled method of text input, especially for high-volume work, where fluency of thought is vitally important. Writers and programmers would seem to profit the most from it, considering the amount of time they spend putting words up on a screen.