Hurdling My English Exam

Over a month ago I was ranting about me taking the IELTS again. I was quite nervous because the first time I took it, I had one part of the exam re-marked. Most bodies requiring IELTS usually just require a general average of 6, regardless of the band score for each sub-test. But like what I have mentioned in my previous blog, for teachers it is a totally different case. We need to get a general band score of 7.5, a score of at least 8 in Speaking and Listening, and a score of at least 7 in Reading and Writing. Whew! What a requirement. The harder part of it all is that it is the Academic module I need to take.

As soon as I got my confirmed booking, I immediately called my mom and told her to send all my IELTS reviewers I left in Manila. I didn’t want to get harassed again preparing for this exam. I cannot jeopardize the results of this exam because my chance to work as a teacher here in Australia depended on it. When I got my 3 books, my exam was still 3 months away. I told myself that by the time the month is over I have used up all my reviewers already. Little did I know that in the public libraries here, they have a huge collection of IELTS review materials. When I found out about it, the rest as they say is history.

By the time the calendars hit August, my exam month, I barely touched my own review materials, only because I was able to maximize the books available in the libraries. I was panicking already 3 weeks before the test since I really didn’t have the time to sit down and review. My hands were always full with the chores at home (my sis-in-law had a job already), taking care of three kids (2 are my brother’s children) and my part-time job. By the time Liam falls asleep I am dead tired as well. I cannot have the review that I wanted. Good thing 2 weeks before the exam Liam started going to the child care. That gave me two days of review. I tried to overcome the temptations of doing FB and some other chores at home while Liam was away. But most of the time, I failed. The last week before the exam, I think I made big progress because reality hit me already. A day before the exam, I tried to relax and didn’t bother opening a book again.
Finally on the day of the exam, everything was a bit easier than what I expected it to be. I knew I did good in the listening and reading parts, but when the writing part came, oh no! My heart crumbled. The first part was ok. The second part which earned more points was a total disaster. I was hoping against hope that my work will be “better” than the others. Speaking test was okay. I was lucky to have chosen a topic close to my heart, which is my home. At the end of the day I was dead tired but I knew the more difficult task awaits me, that is the waiting time before I finally get the results.

After two weeks, I got my results. I was already thinking of Plan B even before I got the results, just in case my grades didn’t make it. But God is good! All three parts which I think I did good, did yield good marks. I got 8.5 band score for Reading, Listening and Speaking. Let me just tell you that 9 is the highest band score you can get. Well, for my writing, God is good, He gave me just the right grade, which I think I also deserved, a 7. Haha, almost didn’t make it! But glad I did.

So now, I have no more reason to worry (for the next two years at that). I am glad this thing is finally over and I can already shout at the top of my lungs, FREEDOM!!!!!

Counting my Blessings

I took a short break from writing because I found myself flooded with a lot of to-do lists and errands. It's a matter of choosing which comes first. Obviously, even if I love writing and sharing myself through my blogs, it has to, it had to take a back seat. It seems that it has been so long since I last wrote. A lot of things has happened already. I finally passed my driving test. I finally got my accreditation letters from NSW Institute of Teachers as well as in Catholic Education Office. Alvin and I have decided to enrol Liam on a child care every Mondays and Tuesdays just to prepare him in the event that I find a full-time teaching job. Liam has made a big progress in terms of increasing his vocabulary. We have started his weekly classes in Gymbaroo. The Math textbook I finished writing last March was published already. My family has been to two BESA gatherings in a span of one month. This is my last week to prepare for my IELTS exam scheduled next weekend. I am busy as a bee. My hands are always full. There is no dull moment at home. There is always something waiting to be done, be it the laundry, the clothes to be ironed, the home to be cleaned, the bin to be emptied, a new dish to be cooked.  Tiring. Yes. Definitely. But I am not complaining. Sometimes I am on the verge of complaining, I am after all human. But looking all of these things on the other end of the spectrum -- considering all of these as blessings -- gives a whole new meaning to it. I am counting my blessings. Rather than complaining I am actually thankful. First on my list is of course the gift of life. How many of us actually go to bed at night thinking that tomorrow will be just another day to do our usual routine? Of course, it all starts after waking up. That is if we wake up. Admittedly, many of us always take this reality for granted. Death is real. We won't know when our time is up. So I am thankful that I get to wake up each day to do a lot of things including the time I get to spend with my loved ones. Second is the gift of good health. This is another thing that is usually taken for granted. I am thankful because aside from being alive, I am physically fit to do the things I need and  want to do. Third, the material blessings that I get from His generosity. The financial provisions He continues to give me and my family,  allow us to have a home, dishes to cook,  food on our tables, clothes to wear, books to feed our brains, a car to drive and the means to travel. In short, we get to enjoy some luxuries every now and then. Winter is almost over and Spring is almost here. Time will fly again. The weekend is almost over and soon it'll be a start of another busy week. Another week of  to-do lists. Another week of errands. Another week of being thankful. Another week to count my blessings.