Recently we have been discussing the pros and cons of life in London. Of course there are more positives (pros) than there are negatives (cons) but for those of you who are thinking of coming to London in the near future, the students of Lower Intermediate A have put together a few pieces of advice that we hope
you might find useful:
Transport: The most common problem experienced
has been the 'tube' (underground train). This can get very busy at rush hour (between 8am - 6pm) and if you don't like confined spaces we suggest you take the bus or walk! The best way to use the
transport in London is to buy an oyster card. This is a plastic card (the size of a credit card) t
hat allows you to use buses, tubes and some overground trains in the city. You can either buy your travel for a month or more or, 'top-up' the money you spend as you go (e.g. £10, £20...etc). You can buy an oyster card at the ticket desk of any tube station or on the Internet at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/). Tube maps are free so we suggest that you pick up one at your local station and keep it in your wallet.
English for beginners: Some students choose to come to England when they are at elementary level. This is a great way to start but also has its difficulties...We suggest that you buy a dictionary before arriving in the UK, perhaps also an electronic dictionary (these might cost a little more) and learn some 'key phrases'. Here are some examples that our class suggest are helpful:
"I would like to go to this address please......"
"Where is the nearest tube station?"
"How do i get to..........?"
"Please"
"Thank you"
"Hello, my name is .........."
Accommodation: Living in London is fun but if you don't like your accommodation it can dampen your enjoyment. Here are a few suggestions that our class recommend looking at before you arrive:
1. Contact IH London and find out about their help with accommodation (http://www.ihlondon.com/) different options include: student apartments and host families.
2. You might want to live on your own or with a friend who is coming with you. If you choose not to live in
the accommodation that IH London provide you might want to look at flats that you can rent privately. There are thousands to choose from in the city but we suggest that you research the area first, before you make a decision. Some areas are more convenient for student living than others. Decide your budget, research an area (district of the city) and then look on the Internet for different rental sites.
Weather: Ah! The famous English weather! In the winter the temperatures can be anywhere below or around 0-10 degrees (cold!)....we suggest that if you are coming in the winter, you bring warm clothes: a coat, a scarf, a hat, gloves and warm shoes or boots! This especially applies to those of you travelling from the Middle East or South America who have very little snow or rain! In the summer, temperatures are usually warm but definitely not too hot!
These are just a few of the points we have discussed and agree would be useful to know before coming to London. City living is great but it can also be a very new experience for most students. Make sure you are well prepared before you arrive, everyone will be experiencing similar problems too remember!
Speak to you soon,
Signed,
Lucy & the class of Lower Intermediate A 
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