Fear of Swimming
As the water reached her waist, Helen felt herself starting to panic. It was ridiculous, she told herself. Here she was a fully grown woman wearing armbands and a buoyancy aid around her waist and grasping a float. But she was still terrified of water.
At 43, and married with two children, Helen was deeply ashamed of the fact she couldnt swim. She hadnt had swimming lessons at school as there had been no facilities. As shed gotten older, her natural distrust of water turned into a phobia.
I was okay as long as my feet were touching the bottom, but the moment I floated free, Id panic. My heart began racing, my stomach would tighten and I couldnt bear anybody near me.
In 1975 when she enrolled for lessons at her local swimming pool it was a disaster. The instructor did get her to do a few strokes, but she remained absolutely terrified.
When her two children Daniel, now 19 and Laura, 17 were young, Helen tried again, but her progress was slow and she soon gave in, thinking there was no point carrying on.
And that was exactly how things would have stayed if it hadnt been for the Splash school of swimming in Leeds, near Helens home. When one of the schools leaflets dropped through her letterbox one day last March, Helen was inspired to give swimming one more go.
In the past, whenever I said I was starting lessons the whole family would say Oh no, not again, so this time I didnt tell anybody. I just phoned up Splash and booked a course.
At first Helen was as scared as ever but gradually, with the teachers help, she began to make progress. The school taught Helen as part of a small group and the instructors stayed in the water with her. They were very patient and that was what she needed. Other instructors at other schools had bullied her and so shed become discouraged. At Splash, however, they were very understanding.
After a few months, Helen was able to take off the armbands and started going to another class at her local sports center. Soon she could swim a whole length of the swimming pool.
Then, just when things were looking up and Helen was able to swim half a dozen lengths, she suddenly lost her nerve again. One day, out of the blue, she had a panic attack and started shaking and shivering with fear.
Determined not to let this defeat her after shed come so far, Helen went to a hypnotherapist who gave her subconscious suggestions to help her overcome her fears. She was soon back in the water with renewed assurance.
And now Helen can swim 64 lengths of her local swimming pool, which is much more than a mile. To celebrate her success, she hired the pool at her local sports center for a birthday celebration. Helen shows the rest of us anything can be achieved if you want to do it badly enough.
. Listening Comprehension Test for 10th Form Students
Remember: you are not allowed to take notes at any time when the text is being read to you.
I. Listen to the text. Decide whether these statements are true or false and mark one.
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1. Helen felt ridiculous because she couldnt swim.
2. Helen had never trusted the water.
3. Helen was afraid in water when her feet werent touching the bottom.
4. In 1979, Helen enrolled in swimming lessons.
5. Helen tried to learn to swim when her children were 19 and 17.
6. Helen lived in Leeds.
7. Helen could swim without help after one month.
8. The instructors at Splash helped Helen.
9. Helen was able to swim 6 pool lengths when she had her panic attack.
10. Helen had her birthday celebration at Splash.
II. Listen to the text and choose one answer for each question.
11. Helen knew her fear was _____.
A) logical.
B) unreasonable.
C) based on past experiences.
12. Why hadnt Helen learned to swim?
A) She had always been terrified of water.
B) She hadnt had the opportunity.
C) She had distrusted her instructor at school.
13. What happened the first time Helen had lessons?
A) She didnt get over her fears.
B) She was afraid of the teachers.
C) She nearly drowned.
14. Helen decided to give swimming one more go when _____.
A) she found one of Splashs leaflets dropped on the ground.
B) Splash put one of their leaflets in her letterbox.
C) she received a letter from Splash.
15. Why did Helen go to a hypnotherapist?
A) She realized she would never be able to swim.
B) She wanted to forget her past fears.
C) She suddenly lost her courage.
. Reading Comprehension Test for 10th Form Students
TEXT I
