Since Graduating from the University in 2013, Katie has been on a journey to her desired career in teaching. From starting out in an urban inner city school in Manchester, where she gained an insightful but challenging experience, Katie decided to take the next step in her career by moving overseas to teach at an international school in Hong Kong.

Whilst talking to us about her experiences so far, Katie said “I always knew I wanted to travel and teach, and I think it’s great to learn more than one culture. I’ve been able to meet families from all around the world which is very fresh and exciting. The curriculum is global and very child-led. It has opened my eyes to how we may limit what children learn in the UK which has helped me grasp new approaches and given me the opportunity to gain a whole new layer to my teaching. We just open everything up and work with what the children give us. It's all about teaching life skills and not assuming that the children you teach are going to stay in the country they're learning in."

Although Katie is enjoying her time as a teacher in Hong Kong, she does sometimes feel nostalgic about home and misses living in the north of England. She said: "The opportunities that I've had out here are huge but I miss Sheffield and the north. Even today I connected with someone who was up north so I do think I'll end up back. I may potentially go to Europe because I find the teaching styles in places like Finland amazing and I'd love to try working in some schools like that."

Alongside teaching Katie also produces a YouTube channel called "For Teachers" which she co-creates with a friend and ex-colleague. Currently the channel has around 1400 subscribers and over 40,000 views of the content. The channel provides a realistic window into her life as a teacher, with its main aim being to spread positivity and to help others who aspire to follow in her footsteps. If you are interested in using your qualification to teach internationally take a look at the video: 'A day in the life of an international school teacher' for a deeper insight.

Speaking in relation to Katie's success, former tutor Mark Heaton said "Katie is a really good example of a Sheffield Hallam student who has gone on to do great things, travel the world, and still has the passion for what she does. She is a great role model for students.”

Through broadening her horizons, Katie has since been offered the incredible opportunity to become English Subject Coordinator/Year Lead in the school in Hong Kong, which will commence as of August 2018. Sheffield Hallam University is one of the largest providers of teaching training in the UK with students gaining experience of schools across the world. Hong Kong in particular, is one of our largest alumni communities with over 5,000 alumni based in the region.

We want to keep up to date with where our alumni are in the world and hear about where life is taking you. Make sure to stay in touch and update your details to find out more about our international activities.