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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172327510983820240715-dswd-tutor-raye-tan-JC-1.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"/>Raye Tan tutors children at the San Vicente Elementary School in Quezon City. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</div>For Teacher Maria “Raye” Tan, becoming a tutor with the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) &quot;Tara, Basa!&quot; Program was a decision that would shape her understanding of teaching and the impact she could have on young lives.When she signed up for the program, a partnership between the Department of Education and the DSWD, she didn’t fully anticipate the challenges ahead. The &quot;Tara, Basa!&quot; Program, initiated during the pandemic years of 2020-2023, was designed to assist college students from low-income families while helping struggling or non-reader grade school learners. Though Tan had some experience assisting her mother, a public school teacher, she had never been fully responsible for a class of young children.Tan’s family background made her all too aware of the importance of hard work.Her father’s income as a carpenter and her mother’s teacher’s salary were not enough to cover the costs of her education and her siblings’ needs. As the eldest of three, Tan had to find ways to fund her own schooling. Fortunately, she secured a scholarship at Quezon City University, but financial pressures remained. Instead of going relaxing and taking a vacation, Tan instead decided to take on a tutoring gig to help her stay in school.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172327623195720240715-dswd-tutor-raye-tan-JC-4.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px" alt="Tan joined the DSWD program to augment her income. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/>Tan joined the DSWD program to augment her income. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</div>Tan and her classmates joined the program, which offered tutors a wage after they completed 20 days of teaching young learners to read. Initially, Tan thought the job would be straightforward, but she quickly realized that teaching children was far from easy.“Honestly I thought it was going to be easy,” she admitted. “Kasi siyempre po bata, madali lang sila utusan, madali lang silang ma uto, pero hindi pala siya ganun kadali.”(Because they are children, it’s easy to tell them what to do, but it’s not easy at all.)<div>Patience is key</div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172327521667620240709-dswd-tutor-raye-tan-JC-2.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px" alt=" Tan says she finds fulfillment in seeing the children&#x27;s progress. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/> Tan says she finds fulfillment in seeing the children&#x27;s progress. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</div>Tan soon learned that each child’s behavior in the classroom often mirrored their experiences at home, making the task of teaching more complex than she had anticipated.“Iba iba yung personalities po nila, iba iba rin yun mga experiences sa bahay nila, so kung sa bahay, hyper sa bahay, kung ano nakakagisnan, nakikita niya sa bahay, yun din po yung bata sa school,” she observed.(They have different personalities. They have different experiences at home so if they’re hyper at home, what they see there, that’s how the kids are here.)Despite the challenges, she discovered a well of patience within herself and a deepened commitment to helping the children succeed.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172327565147720240715-dswd-tutor-raye-tan-JC-3.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px" alt="Tan says she instills in her students the value of studying. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/>Tan says she instills in her students the value of studying. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</div>“Mas mahaba pa pala yung pasensya ko talaga. Mas na challenge po ako ngayon. Nakita ko po ang sarili ko na kaya ko pa ito. Kaya kong magtiis para sa mga bata,” Tan reflected.“I realized im very patient. I’m challenged now. I can see myself that I can still do it. I can be patient for the kids.)<div>Finding fulfillment and inspiration</div>As she prepares her teaching materials each day, Tan finds fulfillment in seeing the children’s progress. She wonders if the knowledge they gained would inspire them to pursue higher education in the future.Tan’s experience in the &quot;Tara, Basa!&quot; Program has strengthened her resolve to continue her education while also fueling her desire to inspire the children she teaches. She encourages them to study diligently, knowing that education is the key to achieving their dreams.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172327674140820240715-dswd-tutor-raye-tan-JC-6.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px" alt="Tan says her only previous experience was assisting her teacher Mother. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/>Tan says her only previous experience was assisting her teacher Mother. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</div>“Ang start mo niyan ay kailangan mag aral ng mabuti,” she would tell the kids. “Para makuha ninyo ang mga gusto niyo ay mag aral kayo ng mabuti.”(You have to start by studying diligently. You can achieve everything you want by studying hard.)Tan also has pride in her work. “Maaaring sa tingin ng iba hindi malaki ang impact nun, pero para sa amin, malaki na ang impact nun. Dahil kami ang naging first step ng bata na matuto, kahit konting words lang yun, alam namin na kami ang nagturo nun.”(Others might not think we have a big impact, but we think we do. Because we are the first steps in the child’s learning, even if it’s not a lot of words, we know we taught those.)<div>Teaching and learning </div>As Tan reflects on her journey, she is grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside her students. She knows that while her time as a tutor is temporary, the lessons she’s learned will stay with her long after she graduates.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172327681568820240715-dswd-tutor-raye-tan-JC-7.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px" alt="Tan said she is proud to teach her students and sees it as an important step in their education. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/>Tan said she is proud to teach her students and sees it as an important step in their education. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</div>“Sa pagtuturo ko, kahit pa maraming natutunan ang mga bata sa akin, mas marami pa rin ako natutunan sa kanila,” she says.(In my teaching, even if the children learned a lot from me, I learned more from them.)Tan knows that this experience will be just a phase in her life, something to look back on, but she now understands that the lessons she learned here will stay with her until she reaches her own dreams.

For teacher Maria “Raye” Tan, becoming a tutor with the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) "Tara, Basa!" Program was a decision that would shape her understanding of teaching and the impact she could have on young lives.

For teacher Maria “Raye” Tan, becoming a tutor with the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) "Tara, Basa!" Program was a decision that would shape her understanding of teaching and the impact she could have on young lives.

Learning through teaching: How DSWD program assists tutors, students

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Learning through teaching: How DSWD program assists tutors, students

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 10, 2024 06:52 PM PHT

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Updated Aug 10, 2024 10:06 PM PHT

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