Silvina and Leon's story

A shared achievement: How one mother and son took their Trinity exams together

For Silvina, learning English has always been important,  but taking a Trinity GESE exam alongside her son Leon turned learning into something even more meaningful -  a shared challenge, a family experience, and a moment of pride they will always remember.

“English was part of my life almost my entire life,” she explains. “I love speaking English, so it's more like a hobby.”

Although she had studied English for many years, Silvina hadn’t taken an exam in a long time. When the opportunity came to take a Trinity GESE exam, she saw it not as a requirement, but as a personal challenge.

“For me, it was a personal experience. I wanted to know if I was able to speak with someone else,” she says. “I can't tell you how nervous I was at the moment of the exam. But it was so important to feel that I was able to do it.”

Learning together as a family

What made this experience especially unique was that Silvina and her son Leon took their exams on the same day. Preparing together became part of their daily routine, turning practice into a shared activity.

“It was like we would share this together,” Silvina says. “We practised together, and he helped me with my presentation.”

For Leon, the exams were an exciting step in his learning journey. Like many young learners, he felt nervous at first - but those feelings quickly changed once the exam was over.

“In the exam, I was nervous,” he says. “Then I was happy and relaxed!”

The moment he returned home after his first exam is one that Silvina will never forget.

“He came back and said, ‘Mummy, I did it, I did it.’”

Building confidence through communication

For Silvina, the most valuable part of the Trinity GESE experience was the focus on communication. The speaking format allowed her to use English in a real conversation.

“The important thing is when you can understand and have a conversation,” she explains.

She believes this confidence is especially important for young people growing up in today’s connected world.

“The world is so connected,” she says. “I want Leon to be prepared to speak with anyone he wants.”

Taking the exam helped both mother and son realise what they were capable of achieving.

“I think this kind of exam makes people feel like, ‘OK, I can do it.’”

A sense of achievement

Teachers at the school saw first-hand how meaningful the experience was for their students. Preparing for the exam required effort and dedication, but the reward was a powerful sense of accomplishment.

“After that, the sense of achievement is incredible,” one teacher Maria Eugenia explains. “We think it's a great experience for adult students.”

The exam day itself became a celebration, with families and classmates sharing the moment together. For Silvina, the experience reinforced her love of learning and her belief in the value of trying new challenges.

Encouraging others to take the step

Now that she has completed her Trinity GESE exam, Silvina is eager to encourage others -especially busy parents - to do the same.

“You must do it. It’s so nice to be speaking English again,” she says.

Her message is simple: learning doesn’t stop with age, and confidence grows when people challenge themselves.

For Silvina and Leon, taking their exams together was more than an assessment. It was a shared achievement - one that strengthened their confidence, brought them closer together, and showed them what they could accomplish as a family.

“In the exam, I was nervous, then I was happy and relaxed!”
Leon

 

I think this kind of exam makes people feel like, ‘OK, I can do it.”
Silvina

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