Mark’s UK Experience

WHO AM I

The names Mark Johnson and I am from Auckland, New Zealand. I went to an all-boys Catholic school along with my two older brothers. I have a passion for playing sport and this lead me to become a health a PE teacher for 7 years. And I am very excited about the next chapter in my life!

WHY I MOVED TO THE UK

Ever since my parents met in the United Kingdom in the late 1980s, the photos and stories I heard always had me excited about travelling to the UK. When I became a teacher of Health and Physical Education I knew I was on the correct path to do the job I loved while throwing in some party and travel in the mix.

After six years of teaching at a Catholic school in Auckland, NZ I was a bit hesitant to take the leap to the UK. I was making decent progression and really enjoying my job, this was making it hard to leave. Little did I know that teaching in the UK would develop my teaching in so many ways.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TEACHING IN THE UK

Teaching in Hampstead Heath to White City and finally in Guernsey in the Channel Islands provided me with countless positive teaching experiences. Little did I know that moving to the UK would better develop me into the quality teacher I was, eventually gaining a second in charge of the PE department in an overseas school. The number of different curriculums, policies, management strategies, PD sessions and daily experiences, moulded me into the quality teacher I became. Teaching football in a foot of snow in the middle of London will be an experience myself and surely the students will not forget.

MY FAVOURITE PART ABOUT TRAVELLING

Sport! Being quite a social person myself I was very keen to meet people from all over the world. Being outgoing enough to jump into sports teams on arrival was an amazing way to meet lifelong friends and have one hell of a good time when in London. From playing basketball in Chelsea every Monday evening, shaking off the winter cold with outdoor netball in Clapham, heading over to Iceland with 50 rugby mates, winning the social tag tournament with the flatties to heading to the Milan 7’s beer festival, I cannot talk enough how sport made my experience so much better.

‘It’s not where you are in the world, it’s who meet and surround yourself with’. My advice is to be outgoing, meet new people and gain lifelong friends.

If you are interested in making the move to the UK, click here for more information and to get in touch!