I was in a meeting at Kangaroo Jack, SM North EDSA when my mobile phone rang.  I was an unknown number and I do not usually answer calls that are not registered in my phonebook. It took me a while before I decided to answer the call.  So, I excused myself from the meeting and when out to the Sky Garden where it was less noisy. The call was from a prospective client, Kristine Clemente. A licensed nurse, part-time model and was at the time an SM Smart employee who manages the FOREX at SM Cubao, who later on during the conversation mentioned that she needed to be reviewed for an IELTS exam that was set early of this year, 2012. That call from Kristine was made Dec. 4, 2011. She mentioned how she saw MTACS and our services and it was thru sulit.com. She was in dire need of a review for she was to take the exam early January of this year. I was a bit hesitant to accept her need because the time for her to be reviewed was so short. I asked her the schedules of her preference of her sessions with us and she said she can only spare for her review time twice a week and for the most, 3 hours for each session. I said, “WOW!You’re asking for agony!”.  That statement was not only for her but for us as well. Eventually, I accepted but I asked her to be cooperative during the review sessions. Meaning, if there are things that she needed to be reviewed over and over, she should tell us and not just nod whenever we ask her if she understood what was being taught.  She agreed.  I did warn her that I was strict and I told her why.  She understood. How can you turn down someone who is in dire need of your assistance when you can really help them? I couldn’t. It was a do or die a situation. She was to take the IELTS exam so she can further her studies in the UK. She must reach the total bandwidth score of UK’s asking which was a 6. During the phone conversation I was already evaluating her. The way she speaks, her subject verb agreement and so on. She wanted a ONE on ONE session which was favorable for both parties.

The International English Language Testing System popularly also known as IELTS is an English language test usually required for Visa processing and admission

She started her sessions with us Dec. 15, 2011. So, basically speaking, she only has less than a month to prepare for the exam and not to mention the time she allotted for her review. It was very short.  We were all pushed to the limit during her sessions.  We wanted her to be prepared as much as she wanted to be prepared. Stress was present every session. We have our reviews after her work. We meet at 7pm and we end at 10pm and she still has to travel to get home to Montalban.  Yup! stressful! Exhausting!

Kristine met with us apparently for only less than 3 weeks. We didn’t have our reviews during the holidays (a few days till Christmas up till after new year).   We only met with her for less than 6 sessions but I wanted more!  I wasn’t satisfied with what she had learned! For me, it wasn’t enough!  I asked for her to have a full day session with us. YES! a whole 8 hr session! She agreed to what I wanted because she knew she would benefit from it. It was a giveaway!

We met during her day-off. After  hours of reviewing, repeatedly going over what has to be learned and absorbed, we all looked exhausted! Kristine looked like a tomato that was thrown up in the air and dropped.  Yes, she looked mashed up! Of course, we had breaks. During her breaks, we ate,  had a few laughs, talked about anything away from her review and slouched. I didn’t see her during the week of her exam to give her space to rest her mind, body and of course, time for herself however way she  would want to use it.

Her exam was dated on the 14th of January, 2012.

When the day of her exam came, I woke up early. Wanted to message her “good luck” but it just might make her more nervous.  So i just waited for her to finish all the exams.  There are 4 parts of the IELTS exam.  LISTENING, READING, WRITING & SPEAKING. She said she was able to finish her last exam which was speaking even before the time she was to have the exam. I called  her about 5pm and asked how she did.  She said she did fairly well.  We were talking while she was doing her chilling time in an internet cafe at Mega Mall.

The next step was the hardest part.  The wait…………… Waiting for the results to come out. You see, the end result will depict both  the effectiveness of her absorbing what we were reviewing with her and our way of reviewing her.  I wanted to know, too, how effective Marinel and I were to her.  All her reviews were customized, to her needs so she can deal with the exam easily.  I took the IELTS exam myself so I do have a bird’s-eye view on how it goes.  I was able to give her tips apart from what we were reviewing with her.  She was able to utilize them. Phew!  The results usually come out 10 working days after the date of the exam taken. I was waiting for a text message from her. I did expect her to get her results within this week.

I got a text message from her yesterday morning. She was able to make the total bandwidth score that UK requires for those who want to pursue their studies in their country. My heart jumped! I felt relieved at the same time trying to keep a tear from falling.  I was proud of her!  Up till now, as I am typing the story of my very first trainee for IELTS, I am stopping a tear from falling.

Kristine taught me a lot, too. She’s only 22 years old and she gave me more reason to pursue something that I have always wanted to do……..to share what I have learned and to give back what was shared to me all these years.  To have reason to do something is not enough for you to succeed with what you want to achieve, no matter how big or small the intentions are, you must put your whole heart and and admiration to what you want so you can gladly share it to others!

To Kristine Clemente, CONGRATULATIONS for passing the required bandwidth score of the United Kingdom and thank you for being MTACS’s very first IELTS reviewee.  You made MTACS very proud of you! Live up to your dreams and make them happen! You’re definitely on your way to succeeding!