A 21-YEAR-OLD Bishop's Stortford woman has decided to get some experience at becoming a teacher the hard way by spending two years teaching maths in Zambia.

Beth Williamson, a Leeds University civil engineering graduate, is to fly to the town of Kasempa in the central African state, to join five other volunteers working for international charity Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO).

There she will teach maths to 13 to 22-year-olds, in a school lacking textbooks and even electricity.

She said: "My family and my friends have been very supportive. I will miss them and the food, but it's a chance to experience something a little bit different."

Miss Williamson, of Clover Avenue in Bishop's Stortford, said she will face the challenge of dealing with big class sizes and no resources, but expects to be on a steeper learning curve by plunging herself in at the deep end.

"I've got about two weeks to learn a little bit of the local language. With most children it shouldn't be a problem though, because English is the national language."

Before going to university, Miss Williamson had considered a similar placement but decided to defer her decision until she was qualified.

"It's a two-way thing. I want to teach, and get the experience of doing something completely different. My family are already planning to come and visit me."

VSO uses the skills and experience of volunteers to help tackle poverty in 74 of the world's poorest countries. Founded in 1958, it is now the largest organisation of its kind worldwide and has 2,000 volunteers working overseas.