You have a friend in your class who wants to learn swimming but he is scared of water .you want to help him in fulfilling his desire. Discuss with your partner -what problems can occurs if he tries to learn swimming?
How can he over come this fear of water?
Follow up questions
------sound interesting could you expand on this?
Do you think your solution, would be acceptable to--------? Why/why not?
What do you think the problems could be with----------?
What will happen if this problem is not unsolved?
What role can parents play in this?
Do you think your solution would be effective enough. Why/why not?
Answers
You can either use the following discussion or formulate your own discussion taking ideas from it:
Student A: Hey, do you know our friend, Samarth is facing trouble learning swimming.
Student B: Well, there is nothing new in it! Swimming learning is quite challenging! I myself took quite a long time to learn it!
Student A: I have the same opinion; but we have to help him. Yesterday his mother called me and confided to me how scared he feels of water! She was really worried about him.
Student B: We must talk to him. We need to tell him that swimming learning is hard for everyone. One really needs to set one’s fear aside and step into the pool and then practice determinedly. That’s the first secret. We will tell him the story of William Douglas, the famous American justice, whose swimming learning story has been the inspiration for many who fear swimming. We will tell him how he learnt little by little every day.
Student A: I think we also need to talk to his coach. We need to tell his coach to give him extra care; motivate him more; show a little more patience with him. We need to explain to him that swimming takes at least two to three months. Then becoming perfect in it depends upon practice.
Student B: Hey I have another idea. Why don’t we accompany him to swimming classes? It will solve the problem. Our presence will encourage him. And you can also hone your swimming skills further! What do you say?
Student A: We can ask him to use life jackets initially. Once he learns how to paddle in the water, he will immediately learn how to float. All he needs is a little more courage and determination.
Student B: We will help him with that.
Student A: That’s a very bright idea. We can accompany him for a few days until he is comfortable with the basic swimming skills.
Student B: Let’s go to his house right now and clear all his doubts about his hydrophobia.
Follow up questions and answers:
Do you think your solution would be acceptable to .......? Why/ Why not?
Answer: I am sure the solution will be acceptable to him as we are his true friends; he trusts us and when he will come to know we will accompany him to the pool every day, he will be excited. He will learn swimming happily.
Do you think your solution would be effective enough? Why?/ Why not?
Answer: The solution will be effective because the coach will give him special attention. We will take care of his fear. We will make him practice the basics. With us he will learn swimming playfully.