As a teacher in Australia, I had always enjoyed the laid-back lifestyle and friendly people. However, after several years of teaching in the same school, I felt that I needed a change of scenery and a new challenge. That’s when I decided to pack my bags and move to London to teach for three years.
The decision to leave Australia and start a new life in London wasn’t an easy one, but it was something that I had always wanted to do. I had heard great things about the education system in the UK and I was excited to see what it was like first hand. I was also looking forward to exploring a new city and experiencing a different culture.
The process of moving to London as a teacher was fairly straightforward. I applied for a teaching position online and was quickly offered a job at a school in the heart of the city. I was given a relocation package which covered the cost of my flights and helped me to find accommodation. The school also provided me with a mentor who helped me to settle in and get to grips with the UK education system.
One of the things that I noticed straight away about teaching in London was the pace of the curriculum. The school year is broken up into three terms with shorter breaks in between, which means that there is a lot to cover in a short amount of time. I found myself having to plan my lessons more carefully and work harder to keep up with the pace of the curriculum. However, I also found that this made me a more effective teacher in the long run.
Another difference that I noticed was the emphasis on exams and testing. In Australia, there is a focus on project-based learning and developing critical thinking skills, whereas in the UK, there is a greater emphasis on rote learning and memorization. I found that this approach had its advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it made it easier to measure student progress and identify areas where they needed more support. On the other hand, it could be quite stressful for the students, who were constantly under pressure to perform well in exams.
Despite these differences, I quickly fell in love with teaching in London. The school that I worked at had a diverse student body and I enjoyed getting to know students from all over the world. I also found that the education system in the UK was very supportive of teachers. There were regular professional development opportunities and I felt that I was able to grow and develop as a teacher in ways that I never would have been able to back in Australia.
Outside of work, I loved exploring London and all that it had to offer. There were always new restaurants, museums and galleries to discover and I enjoyed immersing myself in the city’s vibrant culture. I also made some great friends through work and social activities, which made the transition to a new country much easier.
After three years of teaching in London, I decided that it was time to return home to Australia. While I had enjoyed my time in the UK, I felt that it was time to move on and explore new opportunities back in my home country. However, I will always look back on my time in London with fondness and gratitude for the experiences that it gave me.
In conclusion, leaving Australia to teach in London was one of the best decisions that I ever made. While there were certainly challenges along the way, I found that the experience of teaching in a new country was incredibly rewarding. I learned so much about myself as a teacher and as a person and I made memories that will last a lifetime. If you are considering taking the leap and teaching overseas, I would highly recommend it. You never know where the journey might take you, but I guarantee that it will be an adventure that you will never forget.
