Cover Story

Cover Story – Fabiola Madoenho Fernandes

Student of the English for Career Development Programme – Future Learning Language School. 

A glimpse into who I am – passions and personality

My name is Fabiola Madoenho Fernandes. I’m Brazilian and have been living in Ireland since 2024. I’ve always been passionate about work, people, personal growth, and meaningful connections. Beyond my professional journey, I’m someone who finds joy in discovering new cultures and learning from every encounter. I’ve always loved traveling, but since moving to Ireland, it has truly become my greatest passion.

Moving to Ireland wasn’t just a geographical change it was a personal transformation. Living in a place with such rich cultural diversity has challenged and shaped me. Every interaction and every shared story has helped me uncover new layers of who I am, beyond the borders of my language, country, and culture.

I truly believe that growth happens when we step outside our comfort zone and for me, that means navigating new environments, languages, and ways of thinking. That’s what keeps me curious, resilient, and always evolving.

My professional background

With over 14 years of experience in Human Resources, I’ve built a solid foundation working in recruitment, training and development, leadership mentoring, and strategic people management. I hold a degree in HR Management, an Executive MBA in Business and Professional Coaching, and certifications in behavioral analysis profile.

Before moving to Ireland, I worked as a Human Resources Coordinator in a large logistics company in Brazil, where I led projects focused on process improvement, leadership development, and strategic decision-making support. I was also responsible for supporting the implementation of new distribution centers across multiple states in the country.

Like many immigrants, I carry multiple responsibilities in my daily life. I’m a full-time English student in the mornings, I work as a Sales Assistant in the afternoon, and during my free time or days off, I dedicate myself to my own business offering career mentoring services, both online and in person. These include support with job searching, LinkedIn, CVs, interview preparation, and behavioral profiling. Balancing these roles has been a powerful learning experience, helping me grow personally and professionally while navigating a multicultural and highly dynamic environment.

A different way of learning

At Future Learning, education is different and truly innovative. It's not a traditional language school it's a modern, dynamic space that challenged me to explore and express my identity in a new language.

When we learn a new language, we're not just learning grammar or vocabulary – we’re building a new version of ourselves. One that must understand not only words, but also tone, gestures, and culturally appropriate expressions. Doing this in a multicultural environment makes the experience even more enriching and challenging.

Future Learning gave me the perfect environment to discover who I am outside the culture I grew up in. Being in the classroom, learning and exchanging experiences with people from all over the world, was essential to my development not only as a student, but as a person.

During classes and projects, we were encouraged to collaborate, listen actively, debate ideas, structure arguments, and respect different communication styles. The learning environment simulates real corporate settings, which I believe is extremely valuable for students whether they have work experience or not. I was also able to share my own experience in Human Resources and leadership, while learning a lot from my classmates.

How 21st-century skills boosted my career

More than learning English, I developed essential 21st-century skills such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and digital literacy. These competencies transformed how I operate professionally, how I mentor others, and how I face global challenges.

I became more confident in leading mentoring sessions, facilitating workshops, speaking in public, and working with multicultural teams even when English isn’t my native language. Through the projects and interactions in class, I was able to build a bridge between everything I’ve learned throughout my career and this new language, expanding my work to an international level.

Throughout this journey, I have been incredibly fortunate to have teachers who not only guided me through the language learning process but also believed in my potential. Their constant support, encouragement, and genuine interest in my growth motivated me to step out of my comfort zone and confidently showcase my skills in the classroom. They created a safe and inspiring space where I could explore new ideas, express myself freely, and develop both academically and personally. This encouragement was crucial in helping me build the confidence to face challenges and seize new opportunities.

Certification with purpose

After completing the English for Career Development programme (C1 level) at Future Learning, I received a certificate that represents 25 weeks of dedication and commitment. The preparation for the Trinity ISE III exam added even more value to my professional profile, demonstrating not only language proficiency but also resilience and consistency.

This certification stands out to recruiters and clients and often becomes a topic in interviews or mentoring sessions. For me, it marks the end of a significant chapter, one that proves focus, persistence, and readiness for international challenges.

More than a document, it’s a message to the job market: I am prepared for what the future holds.

Why this story matters

Sharing my story is my way of showing others especially women, immigrants, and career changers, that transformation is possible. The future is full of opportunities for those willing to learn, adapt, and reinvent themselves.

I left behind a well-established career, family, friends, and my culture. I gave up the stability I worked hard to build over the years because I understood that my happiness wasn’t there anymore. And in that leap of faith, I found new possibilities and, more importantly, I found myself again.

My connection with Future Learning was rooted in shared values. I deeply believe in evolution, in change, and in doing things differently. Future Learning isn’t just about language it’s about transformation. The school embraces technology and equips students with the tools required in today’s global market.

I’m extremely grateful to be part of an institution that values innovation, career development, and personal growth. And if my journey inspires someone else to take their next step, it’s all been worth it.

Thank you, Future Learning, for helping shape the person I am becoming.

With gratitude,
Fabiola Madoenho Fernandes