Summarize the following:
Some people want to learn how to swim for general safety reasons. Others want to learn so that they can safely take their kids to the pool. Still others might want to learn to swim in order to conquer a lingering fear from childhood. Understanding their reasons can help you decide how to proceed with the lessons and what skills to focus on. For example, if your student wants to learn to swim in order to accompany their children to the pool, you might want to spend more time perfecting their freestyle stroke, as this is the best way to reach someone who needs assistance in the water. Helping your student become more comfortable with this stroke can help them feel like they are achieving their goals more quickly. Ask your student about any previous swimming experience. If the adult student already has some swimming experience, ask them to demonstrate some of the skills they already have. Ask them what they feel most comfortable with and least comfortable with so that you can build up their confidence accordingly. Discuss the end results that your student hopes to achieve and come up with a reasonable plan for achieving those goals. Talk about how often you'll meet for lessons each week, whether they should swim on their own for "homework," and provide a timeline for several important swimming milestones. For example, it might be helpful to plan with your student that they should be able to complete an unassisted lap across the length of the pool by a certain date.
Inquire about their reasons for wanting to learn now. Assess their current skill level. Create a goal-oriented timeline.