In this post, Chatteris Tutor Ciara Salisbury explains how her background in languages, international law, and diplomacy pivoted seamlessly into tutoring English…

When I told my friends and family I was moving to Hong Kong they weren’t at all surprised:  I had studied Spanish and Chinese Studies as an undergraduate and lived abroad before. However, when I told them that I would be tutoring English I was met with a few puzzled looks.

When I applied to Chatteris I had just finished my Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy. My family assumed I would follow a more traditional path into NGOs, policy, or international organisations. However, Chatteris was not the kind of NGO my family were expecting. Working as a tutor didn’t seem to align with the path I had been on so far. So why did I choose the classroom over a more traditional route into international development? 

Looking back, the decision makes much more sense than it appeared at the time. Throughout my studies, I had always been interested in languages and cultural exchange. Learning Spanish and Mandarin opened doors that I never knew existed, allowing me to connect with people, perspectives, and opportunities that would otherwise have been inaccessible. Studying and living abroad didn’t just change where I lived; it changed how I viewed the world. I wanted to give others the opportunity I had to explore new cultures.

Why Education?

During my Master’s degree, I completed an internship with an NGO supporting stateless communities in Western Asia. Much of my work involved researching the challenges faced by people who are often excluded from basic rights and services. One issue that repeatedly emerged was access to education.

During my internship, I began to understand the consequences when that right is denied. Many people face significant barriers to some or all aspects of education, limiting their opportunities from an early age and affecting their access to employment, healthcare, and social mobility later in life. It became clear that educational inequality influences almost every aspect of a person’s future. Education is not only a development goal in itself but also a foundation for reducing inequality, creating opportunities, and empowering communities. The more I learned, the more I realised that education sits at the heart of many of the issues that international development seeks to address.

How is Tutoring English Connected to Diplomacy?

When people hear the word diplomacy, they often think of embassies, international organisations, and meetings between government officials. While these institutions play an important role, I have realised that diplomacy also happens on a much smaller scale through everyday interactions between people from different cultures and backgrounds.

Many of the most meaningful experiences in my own life came through education. Learning languages, studying abroad, and meeting people from different countries challenged my assumptions and helped me see the world from new perspectives. These experiences taught me that cultural exchange has the power to build understanding in a way that policies alone cannot.

This is one of the reasons I was drawn to Chatteris. The organisation’s mission goes beyond simply tutoring English. By supporting students from under-resourced backgrounds, Chatteris helps young people develop the language skills and confidence needed to access future educational and professional opportunities. In a globalised and education-focused place, helping students strengthen their English can contribute to opening doors that might otherwise remain closed. 

For many students, English is more than just another school subject. It can provide access to higher education, international opportunities, and the ability to engage with people and ideas from around the world. Just as access to education can change the trajectory of a person’s life, access to quality language education can expand what students believe is possible for their future.

In this sense, the classroom becomes more than a place to teach vocabulary and grammar. It becomes a space where students are exposed to different cultures, perspectives, and possibilities. While they may not yet have the opportunity to study abroad themselves, interactions with tutors from different backgrounds can offer a form of cultural exchange that broadens horizons and encourages curiosity about the wider world.

My understanding of education as a tool for opportunity was further reinforced through volunteering with Chatteris Community Programmes. One of the highlights of my year was taking part in English Story Time sessions with young refugee and asylum-seeking children in Hong Kong. Through stories, games, and creative activities, we created a space where children could practise English while building confidence and enjoying the learning process. Although the sessions were small, they reminded me that education is often about much more than academic achievement. It can provide a sense of belonging, encourage curiosity, and help young people imagine possibilities beyond their current circumstances. Experiences like these strengthened my belief that education can be a powerful force for inclusion and social change.

To Conclude

So why did I choose the classroom over a more traditional path in international development? Because I came to realise that education is one of the most powerful forms of diplomacy. Every time a student gains the confidence to communicate in another language, engages with a new culture, or begins to imagine opportunities beyond what they thought was possible, a door opens. My year with Chatteris has shown me that meaningful international exchange can happen in classrooms too. For me, tutoring English in Hong Kong was never a step away from international development. It was simply a different way of contributing to it.

Passionate about education as a force for social change? Click here to apply for the Chatteris International Graduate Programme

References / Further Reading

British Council. (n.d.). Future of English. https://www.britishcouncil.org/future-of-english

Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong. (2022). 2021 Population Census – Main Tables (Demographic Section). https://www.census2021.gov.hk/en/main_tables.html

Education Bureau, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. (2020). Study in Hong Kong: Why Hong Kong – Introduction. https://www.studyinhongkong.edu.hk/en/why-hong-kong/introduction.php

ETS. (2026). TOEIC Global English Skills Report Launch [Press Release]. https://www.ets.org/newsroom/toeic-global-english-skills-report-launch.html