It’s been
one of my various jobs, over the past ten years, to teach English as a Foreign
Language at a local college, not far from N-o-T.
When I
first began, the Government of the Day, in its wisdom, had decreed that EU
nationals, asylum seekers and those in receipt of benefits could avail
themselves of free English lessons. It was also a time which hailed the start
of an impressive influx of people from Poland into the UK. I had started
teaching in February, and the following September, at the start of the academic
year, my new class numbered some 48 students, of which 60% were Polish. Not so
much teaching as crowd control! A number of additional teachers were swiftly
recruited, as lessons had turned into a huge game of musical chairs as the
number of students increased exponentially week-on-week, whilst the number of
chairs and table remained at the same level.
Now, some
ten years on, many of the Polish students I knew in those days have returned to
Poland, although I still bump into a few from the early days, very settled in
the local area.
My classes
today are a much more multinational affair. This term, I have 14 students (the
numbers now are much more manageable, and have been since the Government
stopped free lessons: they were “too successful”). The mix of nationalities
mirrors much of what we hear in the media. Of my 14 souls, four are Spanish,
two Greek, two Portuguese, one Russian, one Pole, one Slovak, two Indians and a
Colombian. The last two years have seen a significant increase in the numbers
of students from southern Europe, whilst there are very few Poles these days.
In my local
area, which may not be representative of the demographic elsewhere, most of
these people are either au pairs, or work in catering and hospitality. A surprisingly large number also work as carers for the elderly or in care homes. I read
(when I can’t avoid it) with some confusion and dismay the reports of
immigrants being in receipt of benefits, housing, handouts and support, and
wonder where these people live. Because I’ve never met any migrants who conform
to that profile.
Not only do
they all work, but they give up 5 hours a week after work to attend English
lessons. And they work hard at that, too. They attend regularly, they ask for
the work they’ve missed if they can’t come, they do homework and they work
their socks off in class. And they pay
for the privilege.
Last week,
we had a lesson about the EU, the UK and the latter’s current approach (or that
of the current Government of the Day) to the former. Mr Cameron’s current
pronouncements on the EU and immigration have most of them flummoxed.
“So”, they
asked “if we go home, will English people want to do our jobs?”
“I have
never seen an English person apply for a job where I work” said one “until this
year. This year we took on three English people. They lasted just 3 weeks”
“ We pay
tax and National Insurance” they said “And we don’t use the NHS”
“I expected
to come here and be a waitress” said one Spanish girl – she and her partner are
in my class “but we both found jobs in IT, which is what we’re qualified in,
and they were really pleased to have us”
“ We are
contributing to the cultural mix in the UK” they said “And it’s what we love
about being here: the diversity”
So I asked
them, for homework, to write a letter to Mr Cameron, telling him how they felt
and what they thought.
All of them
did a great job. They expressed themselves, within the limitations of their
command of English, with eloquence and clarity. At a time when I’ve been questioning whether I
want to continue doing this job at all, they made me remember why I love it.
Here’s a
letter from a lady who is a grandmother, and whose grandchildren and children
are back in Poland. I’d like David Cameron AND Nigel Farage to read lots more
letters like this:
Dear Sir
Minster Cameron
(OK, a bit of work to do here…)
I writing to you, a Polish immigrant, living alone in the UK almost 7 years.
I writing to you, a Polish immigrant, living alone in the UK almost 7 years.
Last time you said that “Migrant jobseekers who don’t bother to learn English will be stripped of benefits”
So I’m learning English, I’m watching only English TV and I’m reading newspapers every day.
I’m working all the time and don’t use the benefits. I’m working in English company, I have a contract for work. My employers are happy of me because I respect my work and carry out their/my diutes well. All this time I pay tax and insurance.
I have many of English Friends at work. We often meet after work. We cook together and talk about English and Polish culture, history, music and literature.
Sometimes we go out to a restaurant, to the cinema or a pup.
I live in this country, sought to make something good for him..And therefore I don’t understand why you don’t like Polish immigrants.
Sometimes, when I’m out and about in Nowhere-in-France, I have the
misfortune to come across people, British people, who wax lyrical about “(*)(*^&%^!
Immigrants in the UK” and how it’s “one
of the reasons we left”
For me, they’re one of the reasons I stay. And why I don’t think there’s
anywhere else I’d rather be. Unless some idiot in Westminster decides to spoil
it all.
