For 18 years, RareJob has opened doors for Filipinos from all walks of life. Today, around 2,000 active ESL tutors make up the RareJob community, each bringing their own story, schedule, and motivation to the virtual lesson rooms. Among them are students earning extra income, full-time tutors, side hustlers, single parents, retirees, senior citizens, and hobbyists who simply enjoy sharing their time and knowledge.

 

 

Teaching Beyond the Screen

In a world where artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly capable of answering questions and delivering information instantly, the human touch remains irreplaceable. Students do not come to class solely to learn vocabulary, grammar, or pronunciation. They come to be encouraged, understood, and connected with another person. A reassuring smile, a patient ear, or a RareJob tutor who remembers a student’s progress from one lesson to the next are experiences that technology cannot fully replicate. Across thousands of lessons, RareJob tutors continue to prove that while AI can be a useful learning tool, genuine learning still thrives through empathy, encouragement, and meaningful human interaction.

 

 

The Secret Sauce of Excellence

While every tutor’s journey is unique, they all share one thing in common: a commitment to helping Japanese students learn and grow. This year, two outstanding tutors, Tutor April and Tutor Jorella, were recognized with Tutor Excellence Awards, proving that dedication and consistency never go unnoticed.

For Tutor April, her “secret sauce” is surprisingly simple: a genuine smile.

 

“A heartfelt smile can melt a nervous and stressed heart. A genuine smile under pressure was the secret sauce that helped me accomplish my milestone. Looking directly at the camera with a lit face when the student nailed the answer, nodding occasionally instead of saying yes so the student won’t be interrupted when sharing their opinion. I suppose I acquired that behavior over time.”

 

Over the years, she learned how small gestures can make a big difference. Smiling when students succeed and encouraging them without interruption helped her create a welcoming learning environment where students feel seen and heard.

Tutor Jorella’s recipe for success centers on consistency.

 

“Consistency over motivation. Motivation comes and goes, but showing up even on low-energy days is what actually moves things forward. Small daily effort beats big occasional bursts.”

 

For her, excellence is not built through occasional bursts of energy but through small, steady efforts repeated day after day.

 

 

From First-Day Nerves to Award-Winning Lessons

Both tutors remember that their journeys did not begin perfectly.

“You never forget your first,” April recalls. She still remembers her very first lesson, nervously searching for the lesson title while trying to keep the class going. Looking back now, she sees how those early struggles helped her.

 

“It was a Conversation Question lesson. I started with a shaking voice, talking blankly to the student because my mind was elsewhere. It was a nerve-wracking experience that made me what I am today. Yes, I’m proud of what I have become. Those struggles with my first few lessons helped me grow, build confidence, extend patience, maintain self-control when things get funny in the lesson room, and the most important part, stay in control in a friendly manner when things get serious.”

 

Meanwhile, Jorella describes herself as an introvert who spent her early lessons overthinking every word.

 

“I was so focused on saying the ‘right’ things rather than just being human. I’d spend the whole time overthinking my words and worrying about sounding awkward. Because I was so focused on saying right” things rather than just being human, my early lessons were honestly a bit stiff. I felt like I had to force this high-energy persona, which just made the whole experience feel more like a chore than a conversation.”

 

The breakthrough came when she realized she did not need to become someone else to be an effective tutor.

 

 

 

Advice for the Next Generation of Tutors

When asked what advice they would give to new tutors, both shared lessons learned through experience.

April encourages fellow tutors to trust themselves.

 

“Believe in yourself. You passed the rigorous test from our RareJob interviewers. It means they saw something in you. Be approachable while establishing limits. Keep your composure and calm with intermediate students. It sounds so stressful, but hey, we are Filipino Tutors; there’s nothing we can’t do.”

 

She also emphasizes the importance of flexibility, adapting to different student levels, and maintaining composure in every lesson.

Jorella offers equally practical advice:

 

“Chill out a bit; you don’t have to be perfect. Don’t overthink every lesson. After each class, just think, “What went well?” and “What can I do a bit better next time?” Don’t underestimate small talk and a friendly vibe; it really helps students open up and makes the lesson flow better. Honestly, you get better faster just by showing up consistently, staying relaxed, and learning from each class as it comes.”

 

Instead of overanalyzing every class, she recommends focusing on small improvements after each lesson and remembering that a friendly atmosphere often helps students learn more effectively.

 

 

More Than a Job, A Journey of Growth

Beyond professional achievements, both tutors treasure the personal growth they gained through teaching.

For April, the journey introduced her to Japanese culture and taught her to appreciate the uniqueness of every person she meets.

 

“I consider my RareJob journey as a remarkable one. I never expected to achieve something here.”

For Jorella, RareJob provided something equally meaningful: balance.

 

“I never have to miss special moments like school plays, birthdays, or family events, and that means so much to me. Having that balance between work and family life has made me truly happy and grateful. Looking back now, I can see how much I’ve grown, not only as a teacher but also as a person.”

 

She also credits teaching for helping her become more confident and outgoing, transforming from a self-described wallflower into someone comfortable connecting with people from different backgrounds.

 

 

 

Celebrating Excellence, Inspiring the Future

Their stories remind us that excellence is rarely about perfection. It is built through patience, consistency, resilience, and a genuine desire to help others succeed.

As we celebrate Tutor April and Tutor Jorella, we also celebrate every member of the RareJob community. To all 1,400 tutors across the Philippines, thank you for the passion, care, and dedication you bring to your students every day. Whether you teach full-time, part-time, between classes, after retirement, or simply because you love helping others learn, you are part of an 18-year legacy that continues to change lives one lesson at a time. In an age of rapid technological change, your ability to connect, inspire, and uplift learners remains one of RareJob’s greatest strengths and one that continues to make a lasting difference in students’ lives around the world.