Articles on Teaching in the UK

SUPPLY TEACHING IN LONDON

By Susan Chisum - USA

Not unlike Brontë's famous heroine, (my favorite novel) Jane Eyre who said, "It is vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action," I found myself longing for action or adventure! That is when I applied to Southern Alps Recruitment for a teaching position in London.

One mustn't be overly anxious as the paperwork takes some time, however, by November I was planning my journey. I decided to fly into Manchester for two reasons: primarily it is less crowded and chaotic than the London Airports and secondly, I had family in Yorkshire.

I spent some quality family time in Leeds and ventured to London via British Railway on a frosty Saturday morning. I was met at Kings Cross by a friend I had met online. She lives in Harlow. We proceeded to Liverpool Street where we caught a train to Essex. We spent two wonderful weeks together before it was time for me to attend my orientation in London and move there to work.

The orientation was very informative from the standpoint of education…British style. I was rather impressed with the speakers and spent some of the time interacting with other Supply Teachers who were from various parts of the world.

Moving into London was a hassle. Finding suitable lodging is not an easy task. There is always the possibility of a situation that proves uncomfortable for both you and the host family. And in case no one mentioned it before, living in London is very costly. A large portion of your salary will be spent on transportation. Since I did not have a car and would not have ventured to drive had someone offered me one--I was left with the three basic modes of transportation: tube/bus/walking.

The shortest distance between two points, as the crow flies, etc. is not applicable in London. Unlike the grid system of streets used in much of the world, many streets in London start and stop in unexpected places. Therefore, you need a good, user-friendly map! The Underground (Tube) is highly efficient and user friendly, however it is expensive. Buses are cheaper, but you need to be aware that many routes do take a round-about path. They are more difficult to follow and will take some practice to familiarize yourself with the routes and schedules. Of course, the cheapest mode of transportation is shoe-leather express. I did a good deal of walking during my time in London.

Speaking of walking…. I would like to add a few tips about wardrobe. In many parts of the world shoes are often a fashion statement. In London, they are not. You will want good walking shoes for your treks out whether to and from work, or just sight-seeing. No one will care or notice if you wear the same shoes every day. You will need a coat and a scarf. The scarf is the key. It is a "must have" for London in winter. I took three suitcases--full of clothes and shoes. Two were superfluous. The basics will suffice.

The major problem I encountered was the banking issues. The agency that employed me paid me by check. However, I was unable to cash those checks. If you did not have a bank account, there was no way to deposit the money so you could have access to it. Since I did not have a permanent residential address, I was not allowed to open a bank account. It was a Catch-22 and I found myself living on money I had brought with me. When I was down to £200, I decided to "pull the plug" and head for Leeds. I remained in England for an additional two weeks mostly sight-seeing, then flew home.

In retrospect, I must admit that my adventure was indeed an exciting one. I did see some of the sights I had longed to see for many years--Tower of London, Stratford Upon Avon, Haworth, etc. but I left without seeing Canterbury and Jane Austen country. I met wonderful people and enjoyed interacting with them. I found each day an adventure in itself. I enjoyed wandering through the streets of London, Picadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, and Portabello Road. I walked off about ten pounds. And I managed to see most of the areas connected with Charlotte Brontë. I was invited to and enjoyed thoroughly a Burns Night (celebration of the Scottish poet Robert Burns with haggis, etc.). And never felt too isolated from family and friends because of the many Internet Cafes throughout London.

Finally, I would like to add a word or two concerning the language. It has often been said that America and England are separated by a common language. I concur. One rather dull gray morning I stepped onto a bus and asked the bus driver if he went near St. James School. He replied that he did. I took my seat. At the end of the line, he looked back to see me alone sitting on the bus. He asked the problem. I told him that I needed to get off at St. James School. He was astonished. He reminded me that I had said "near" the school, which to me meant "in the general area of" and quite obviously to him meant "by." I thanked him, got on a different bus and back-tracked.

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