She Passed C2 with an A—But That’s Not Why She’d Take the Course Again
Larissa once told me something that stayed with me long after our course had ended:
“If I could, I’d take the course again.”
She wasn’t being polite. She wasn’t fishing for compliments. She meant it, and she’s said it more than once since then.
At first, I took it as a lovely bit of feedback. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized what a powerful statement it was—especially coming from someone who took a C2 Proficiency prep course and passed with Grade A.
Most people wouldn’t dream of re-taking a prep course after they've aced the exam. But Larissa wasn’t most people.
Beyond the Grade
From the start, Larissa brought the kind of energy teachers hope for: hard-working, resilient, curious. She wasn’t obsessed with the grade. She didn’t measure success by percentage points. She treated the course as an opportunity to go deeper into the language.
The Grade A wasn’t her goal. It was a byproduct of the mindset she brought to the process.
That’s rare.
What Makes a Course Worth Repeating?
When Larissa said she’d take the course again, I started asking myself: what makes a prep course worth reliving?
If we’re being honest, many exam prep courses, especially older ones, focused almost entirely on strategies and techniques. They rushed through formats, overloaded students with tips, and left little room for genuine language growth.
A course worth repeating does more. It becomes a space for:
Language growth that goes beyond the exam rubric
Intellectual challenge that invites curiosity, not just compliance
Identity work, where learners start seeing themselves differently—not just as candidates, but as confident, capable language users
When done well, exam prep can be one of the most enriching journeys a teacher or student can take. Larissa's story reminded me of that.
Learning, Not Just Passing
In a world where exam prep often means rushing, skimming, and strategy hacks, Larissa did the opposite. She paused. She questioned. She immersed herself in the process, treating each lesson like it mattered—because to her, it did.
And in doing so, she reminded me that the best students/teachers don’t chase the finish line—they fall in love with the process.
That process didn’t end when the course did. Today, Larissa works with Business English and helps both students and teachers prepare for their proficiency exams.
A Final Reflection
As teachers, we talk a lot about course outcomes. Test scores. Final results. But maybe one of the best measures of success is this:
Would your students take your course again, even if they didn’t have to?
If the answer is yes, you’re probably doing more than preparing them for a test. You’re preparing them for something bigger.
And that, to me, is the real goal of teaching.
Next semester, I’m offering 12 courses specifically focused on exam preparation, language development, and teaching enhancement—each designed to make a tangible impact on your teaching and your students’ learning.
Ready to see real change in your teaching (and your students’ progress)?
Click here or WhatsApp me.
Mondays
Language Development for Teachers· 9–10am (Sergio Pantoja)[Sold Out]From Headlines to the Classroom (New Course!)
Group 1: 10–11am[Sold Out] | Group 2: 8–9pm (Sergio Pantoja)Language Experts · 7–8pm (Sergio Pantoja)
Tuesdays
Path to Proficiency · 9–11am (Ana Carolina)
Advanced Grammar for Teachers · 2–3pm (Sergio Pantoja) [2 places left]
C1 Advanced Prep Course · 7–9pm (Sergio & Ana)
TKT · 7–9pm (Sergio & Ana)
Wednesdays
Brush Up on Your Teaching Skills· 9–10am (Sergio Pantoja)[Sold Out]Advanced Conversation for Teachers (New Edition!) · 10–11am (Sergio Pantoja)
The Lexical Approach· 7–8pm (Sergio Pantoja)Teaching Pronunciation Effectively · 8–9pm (Sergio Pantoja) [4 places left]
Thursdays
C2 Proficiency Prep Course (Module 1) · 7–9pm (Sergio Pantoja)
Fridays
C2 Proficiency Prep Course (Module 2) (Sergio Pantoja)
Group 1: 9–11am | Group 2: 2–4pm
Keep learning, keep growing—and thanks for letting me be part of your journey!