Each student has different fears and needs, and teachers should learn these early on in the lessons. Teachers should offer plenty of reassurance and encouragement and sense when their students are apprehensive about a particular activity. If students show fear when learning something new, teachers have to be able to recognise this and take a step back, later teaching the activity with a different approach. Teachers have to try to develop self-confidence with their students. This can be achieved by offering plenty of praise.
Students learn at a quicker pace if they enjoy what they are being taught.
Therefore it is necessary not to make swimming a chore for the pupil. Teachers will need plenty of patience as swimming should be taught at a self-paced level. On the pupils first day of swimming teachers should not have high expectations of what the pupil will learn. Just allowing the student to get his or her feet wet is sufficient, especially if they enjoy themselves. When the student is brought into the water for the first time it is a good idea that the teacher walks around the entire pool holding the students hand.