Whether you're taking your first steps into teaching abroad or you're looking for fresh classroom inspiration, welcome to The Suitcase Explorer Club 'For Teachers'!
This is a place where I share what I've learned from nearly a decade in education, from practical advice about teaching in China to creative classroom ideas inspired by travel, geography and curiosity.
For Teachers
Meet Harriet
I've been teaching English as a Second Language for nearly ten years, working with children in Vietnam, China and online. Most of my career has been spent in China, where I've taught in training centres, kindergartens and, most recently, an international school.
Over the years I've worked with a range of English language programmes and international curriculums, including the IB Primary Years Programme. Alongside teaching, I've gained plenty of experience navigating the practical side of working abroad too, from finding jobs and understanding contracts to visas, relocation and settling into life in China.
Everything you'll find here comes from my own classroom experience. Whether you're looking for teaching advice, resources or guidance on moving to China, I hope something here makes your journey a little easier.
My Teaching Philosophy
When I think back to my own education, particularly at primary school, I don't remember the lessons themselves, but I do remember the teachers who made me excited to learn. I remember Mr Whale our drama teacher, who made learning fun and different. Every time I visit home, I have a little look through my childhood belongings and I read a letter he wrote to me when I left the school. Though I never thought I would be a teacher, I now know this is the sort of teacher I want to be or hope that I am.
I believe learning should be creative, engaging and, above all, fun. Children learn best when they're curious, so I love designing games, activities and resources that turn lessons into experiences they'll remember.
My background is in geography, culture and sociology, and those subjects have shaped the way I teach. One of the most important things we can give children is an understanding that the world is much bigger than the place they grow up. The earlier we introduce them to different countries, cultures, languages and ways of life, the more likely they are to grow up with curiosity instead of fear, and understanding instead of prejudice.
For me, education isn't just about learning English or memorising facts. It's about helping children become open-minded, respectful and curious about the people and places that make our world so wonderfully diverse. If even one child leaves my classroom wanting to learn more about another country or another culture, then perhaps it was worth it. Or better still if one child goes home and educates a parent on these matters, then I will be happy.
The world can feel increasingly divided. Social media often rewards outrage over understanding, misinformation can spread faster than facts, and it's easy to become disconnected from people whose lives are different from our own. I believe education can help change that. If we can encourage children to be curious about other cultures, ask thoughtful questions and appreciate different perspectives from a young age, we have a better chance of raising a generation that chooses understanding over judgement, and curiosity over fear. That's the kind of education I hope to create.
Admittedly, the reason I wanted to teach abroad wasn't because I'd always dreamed of becoming a teacher or educating children. It actually started for a completely different reason.
During my master's degree, I managed to break both of my ankles at the same time. As captain of the university tennis team, suddenly being unable to play sport left me feeling pretty low. At the time, my plan was to continue into a PhD at the University of Manchester and eventually become a professor. But while I was stuck on the sofa recovering, I found myself thinking, Do I really want to spend the rest of my life sitting in an office? What I'd always loved most was travelling, exploring new places and experiencing different cultures.
One day, a friend's sister asked me if I'd ever thought about teaching abroad. Whilst the idea of living abroad was instantly attractive i did have one instant response, "I don't like children."
Sounds a little bad but bare with me. I have an older brother, no cousins, and I was the youngest in my family, so I'd had almost no experience around young children. To me, they just seemed loud, messy and a little bit irritating. Teaching wasn't the dream. Travelling was.
So I packed my bags and moved to Vietnam, seeing it as an opportunity to explore the world while supporting myself financially. Then, within the first couple of days of teaching, everything changed.
I absolutely loved it.
I discovered that teaching wasn't just a way to travel. It was creative, unpredictable, rewarding and, above all, fun. Nearly ten years later, I'm still teaching, and although there have certainly been challenging periods along the way, accepting that opportunity in Vietnam remains one of the best decisions I've ever made.
Teaching Abroad
Thinking of Living In China?
Whether you're planning to teach, study or simply start a new chapter in China, this collection of articles is here to help. From finding a job and understanding visas to contracts, relocation and everyday life in China, I share practical advice and honest experiences to help make your move a little less daunting.
If you have a question that isn't covered in one of my articles, or you'd like to learn more about the services I offer, I'd love to hear from you. Just send me an email at hello@suitcaseexplorerclub.com, and I'll do my best to help.
Teaching Resources
Every resource you'll find here has been designed by me and used in my own classroom. From craft templates and cut-out activities to worksheets, games and lesson resources, everything has been created with one goal in mind: to make learning engaging, memorable and fun. I hope these resources save you time, spark curiosity and bring a little more creativity into your classroom.