From cleaning houses to starting her own English language academy in Spain. All as a single mother. It’s not every day you hear about a story like Gladys’s. In this article, Gladys walks us through her unique story of navigating through motherhood in a foreign country and the role EBC played in her inspirational TEFL success story.
EBC graduate TEFL success story: Humble beginnings
Gladys’s TEFL success story begins with her determination to persevere through life’s hardships. In this graduate interview, she let us in on the struggles she was going through right before she started the EBC Trinity CertTESOL course.
“I came here in Spain, and I got stuck,” she said. “My working visa expired, and then I had to work (as) a household cleaner.” And yet, even as she cleaned houses to make ends meet, she still found a silver lining, as she got to work for British sculptor Richard Hudson.
“It was a dream for me,” she said. “And you know how I worked for him? I was just cleaning his stuff, like his obra maestras. His works of art. I wasn’t working for him (as) his assistant (or) his secretary. I was cleaning his stuff. Works of art. But that was actually a privilege.”
EBC graduate TEFL success story: The climb
Then, Gladys shared that she decided that she wanted to climb even higher. “I should promote myself,” she said. “And then when I heard about EBC(‘s Trinity CertTESOL course), I (decided I) should try this because I’m a risk taker. And I don’t settle. I don’t settle for (anything).”
Motivated to change her circumstances for the better, she decided to take a leap of faith and saved up for the EBC Trinity CertTESOL course, which gives you English teaching certification. The certification is accepted and recognised by the British Council, which works in over 100 countries around the world.
“‘I don’t want to dwell in this situation forever if I know I can do better,’” Gladys said to herself. “So I said, ‘Let me try this. Maybe this is a stepping stone for me to be in a better situation where I know I can be.’ That’s why I saved even if it was impossible then to save up.” Gladys, being the fighter she is, managed to save up despite also sending money to her family in the Philippines.
“I also talked to my family…to my parents,” she shared, “(and told them) that I would save up, for myself, so I (could) go to this academy.” Gladys also managed to do this while being a mom to her eldest daughter. “And then that’s it,” she added.”
EBC graduate TEFL success story: Powering through
However, even as she started the course, it did not come without struggle. “I almost gave up,” she told us. “I almost gave up because my eldest…she was getting sick like (a lot). And then I had (the) problem of who was going to take care of her that time because if she (was) sick, I could not bring her to the nursery.”
“(I also couldn’t) leave her with the family of my ex-husband because they were also working,” she added. “I didn’t have any way to continue…to finish. At that time I was already finishing my (teaching practice). And I told Tita, ‘I’m really sorry, I can’t make it anymore. I (don’t think I can) make it, and I want to give up.’”
However, Tita Ashton, founder and CEO of EBC, was determined to help Gladys persevere. Gladys told us about how Tita offered to take care of her daughter while she was in class, sharing, “And then she said, ‘No, if the problem is who’s going to babysit Venus, you just bring her here. She’s going to stay in my office, I will take care of her because I know Venus, she’s so nice.’”
She then decided to take Tita up on her offer, thinking, “‘Okay, then let’s try.’” Gladys shared that she was able to power through. “During the teaching practice, I was so worried because (my daughter) was sick. And being a mom, I think of her first before anything else. So I said, ‘Okay, I hope I can make it.’ And then after the teaching practice, I think I got the highest grade. They told me ‘You have a unique way of teaching. You have your own strategies.’ This made Gladys feel proud of herself.
EBC graduate TEFL success story: A supportive team
When sharing her TEFL success story, Gladys included the support she got from the EBC team. “Especially Tita and the professor, they supported (me),” she said. “They knew my situation.” it meant so much to Gladys to know that they understood her struggle as a single mother. They did everything (to help me) finish (the course). They were so good and they helped me a lot. Imagine that! Tita Ashton. She took good care of my little one. (I was) more than privileged.”
EBC graduate TEFL success story: Motivational words from a fighter
When asked what advice she would give to someone with a background story similar to hers, this is what Gladys had to say:
“Well, I can’t compare myself (with) everyone else. Because I’m a risk taker. But then, I’m always telling my friends. Like, I’ve already invited a lot of them to do the same thing. I (was in) a worse situation when I was struggling to get the certificate. And I keep telling them ‘You (are in) a better situation than I (was) when I was in that particular moment of my life.’
“I (say), ‘Now you’re single. I mean, you don’t have kids. You have a boyfriend, but you have to focus on your goal. You shouldn’t settle for something less if you know you can do better. Okay. So what I can tell them is…stop making excuses. If you want it, you have to work for it. You have to get it. You have to do everything.”
This no-excuses mindset is what Gladys encourages people to adopt. She even brought up EBC’s instalment plan option of payment for people who may not be able to fully pay for the course fully in one transaction.
“Because the EBC knows the situation of people,” she said. “You can do the instalment basis. And I don’t think there are (any) more excuses, like time. I don’t think time is a problem because (I’ve) been there. I’m a mom. Likewise, I’ve been there. Don’t tell me that time is an excuse.”
“And if you want something, you really need to fight for it,” she added. “Yeah, I almost gave up. I admit it. But then EBC is very considerate. And they would help you a lot. I promise you. I experienced it personally.”
EBC graduate TEFL success story: Passport to success
As for how the EBC Trinity CertTESOL course helped her get to where she is today, she talked about how the certificate serves as a passport to success.
“I have my own academy here in the country,” she said. “What else can I say? It’s not (the kind of) certificate (that) you’ll just keep in (a) folder inside your cabinet and just leave in there. No! This certificate is forever. And then, it has no age limit. When you have the certificate, you can use it whenever and wherever you want. It’s like a passport to success. Let me say that. I am experiencing it right now.
“The EBC Trinity CertTESOL course is not just an ordinary course. I told you many times that EBC people are very considerate, and it’s not just (so) they earn money. No, they would help you to achieve your dreams. That’s what happened to me personally.
“If you have confidence, if you know your worth and your value, and you know you can do it, EBC is always there to help you. I mean you can (be in) a worse situation than me or a worse situation compared to others, but then EBC is different.
“I can’t imagine myself taking the same course with another company, because I don’t think I (would have made) it. Because EBC is different. EBC is different because they’re considerate, and they love what they’re doing.
EBC graduate TEFL success story: A typical day as a language academy owner
For Gladys, one of the highlights of her TEFL success story is finally being able to be her own boss. She also shared that she loves the time it allows her to spend with her precious children.
“I can hug my kids anytime!” she said. “I used to work for an academy before. And, of course, when my baby (was) sick, I (would have) to leave her with someone, and you know, the stress gets in. The depression gets in.
But now that I have my own (time), I’m in control of my (own) schedule. I can talk to them, I can be with them whenever I want, although I’m the one who’s teaching in my own academy. I have the control of everything. I have no boss. That’s the best thing. I don’t have a boss now.”
To Gladys, this level of independence is something worth celebrating. “If I want my academy to be better, it depends on me,” she explained. “If I want it to pop, then it also depends on me. But if I want to have more and more and more students, it really depends on me. So yeah, that’s it. I’m very proud of myself.
“Actually, before opening this academy, I (had) been through a lot of hardships like a divorce (and even a) car accident,” she said, adding, “The best thing that ever happened that day, during the accident, was (that) my kids were not with me. Because they are always with me, having no family relatives here in Spain. But that time, I had to leave them with the family of my ex-husband, and thank God that happened.”
EBC graduate TEFL TEFL success story: The prize
Despite the struggles she has been through, Gladys is now stronger and happier than ever. “I’m happy,” she said. “I’m happy where I am right now, and I really thank EBC, like, forever. It will be eternal gratitude for me. EBC is different.”
Gladys even said that when she imagines her life without having come across EBC, she probably would have had to go back to cleaning houses.
“And thanks to EBC…because I don’t know, maybe right now having two kids… (if I didn’t) have EBC, maybe (I’d be) back to working, cleaning houses and warehouses of famous people,” she said. “Imagine… Richard Hudson. I can’t think of (a) better situation (than the one) I am in right now without the EBC certificate. It’s like my passport to success, really.”
As for her TEFL success story, Gladys attributes her accomplishments to her courage. “It’s for being brave and being a risk-taker,” she said. “So I encourage everyone to do the same thing. And if you’re looking for an academy (where you can) get the certificate, I can tell them my story. It’s additional encouragement for them. This is the living proof.”
EBC graduate TEFL success story: You’re next
If Gladys’s EBC graduate TEFL success story inspired you, this is your sign to take action! Just like she said, if you want something, get it. Enrol in our EBC Trinity CertTESOL course today and get certified to teach English.
A big bonus is that you will also get access to our lifetime, worldwide job placement programme. This will allow you to get an English teaching job anywhere in the world! Talk to us today and we’ll help you get started.
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Accredited TEFL Training Courses
- Accredited online TESOL certification course, a face-to-face live-streaming TEFL course
- TEFL course in Madrid Spain, accredited TEFL course, the Trinity CertTESOL
- Trinity CertPT CPD courses courses for practising teachers
- Accredited teaching Business English course, a Business English CPD course
- Accredited CLIL course – Content and Language Integrated Learning, a CLIL CPD course
- Accredited CLT course, Communicative Language Teaching, a CLT CPD course
- Accredited teaching English online course, a teaching English online CPD course
- Online TEFL certification course in TESOL & TEFL, a 200-hour course with trainer-marked assignments
- EBC short TEFL skills courses with certification
