Lesson 47: Learning How to Swim Hi! How are you today? Today s lesson is about Learning How to Swim. Let s make learning English fun! Imparare a nuotare Exercise 1 Vocabulary and Expressions (Vocabolario ed espressioni) Directions: Listen and repeat. (Indicazioni: Ascolta e ripeti) Vocabulary and Expressions persuade(persuadere) Examples My dad tried to persuade me to give up buying a motorcycle. float(galleggiare) instructor(instruttore) be scared of...(avere paura di ) anxious(ansioso) drown(annegare) flutterboard(tavoletta) eventually(alla fine) take a dip(immergere) flutter kick(gambata) swim the crawl(nuotare a stile libero) Floating on the water is like lying in a bed. There are many good instructors in this gym. He was scared of his grandpa when he was a kid. She doesn t answer my call, I m getting anxious. You need to learn how to swim not to drown in the sea. Just hold this flutterboard, and kick the wall in the pool. You will be taller than I eventually. Toshi wants to take a dip in the sea. Flutter kicks are the basic in swimming. I can now swim the crawl. I practiced a lot! 1
Exercise 2 Dialogue Practice(Dialogo) Directions: Read the dialogue aloud with your teacher. (Indicazioni: Leggi ad alta voce il dialogo insieme al tuo insegnante.) A kid is afraid of water, his mother is persuading him to go to the pool. Mother: Sean, we are here at the poolside because today is the first day of your swimming lessons. Sean: But I don t want to go to the pool, I am afraid of water, mom! Mother: There s nothing to be scared of, you have a very good and friendly instructor. I will be there too! Sean: What should I do first, mom? Mother: You will just take a dip in the pool and follow your instructor, she will teach you the basic ways to swim. Sean: I m still anxious, mom. I might sink in the water and drown. Mother: No you won t! Just relax, and imagine that you are a boat. You can use this flutterboard, too. It will help you to float on the water. Sean: Alright, mom. I ll try. Mother: Start with a flutter kick. You will be able to swim the crawl eventually. It ll be fun! 2
Check your understanding: Answer the following questions. 1. Why didn t Sean want to go to the pool? 2. What was the advice of Sean s mom to float on the water? 3. Will Sean try taking a dip in the pool? 3
Exercise 3 Practice Questions(Rispondere alle domande) Directions: Practice answering the questions with your teacher. Choose your favorite answer between A and B. (Indicazioni: Rispondi alle domande con l insegnante. Scegli la tua risposta preferita tra A e B.) 1. Do you know how to swim? A. Yes, swimming is actually one of my hobbies. B. No, I am afraid of water. 2. Why do you think some people are afraid of water? A. Simply because they don t know how to swim, I guess. B. Maybe they imagine unknown creatures under water. 3. Do you think it is easy to learn how to swim? A. It s definitely easy, especially when you learn it in your young ages. B. It s quite difficult, at least for me. 4. When do you think is the best time to learn how to swim? A. I think the younger, the better. B. You can learn it anytime you want. 5. Do you think swimming is good for one s health? A. I think so. It brings a lot of health benefits. B. I can t say which would be better for one s health... 6. When is the best time to swim for you? A. During summer! It s fun to feel the heat of the sun. B. Any season, I love to swim in the pool in my favorite gym. 4
Exercise 4 Conversation Questions(Conversazione) Directions: Take turns with your teacher in answering the questions (Indicazioni: Rispondi alle domande a turno insieme al tuo insegnante) 1. Do you think it s necessary to learn how to swim? 2. Do you think it s hard to teach children how to swim? Why do you think so? 3. How can you make swimming a fun activity instead of a tiring one? 4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of swimming? 5. Tell me about your swimming experiences. 5