Becky Marshall

Name:   Becky Marshall

 

Job role:  Paid part-time swimming teacher

 

Courses attended:  Level 2 Teaching Aquatics and Level 1 Teaching Diving

 

Location of course: York and Sheffield

 

What is your background, i.e. are you new to aquatics or have you been involved for a number of years?

I’ve not had any previous experience or involvement in swimming or diving. I swam regularly when at university and saw how popular the lessons were, saw how much fun the kids were having and how good it was for those teaching too and wanted to take part.

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If you are already working in aquatics, what do you enjoy about being a teacher or coach?

Now I am working part-time as a teacher it’s lovely to have such a good relationship with the children I work with. They make me smile every day. It’s certainly a great way to fund my university studies and it’s more rewarding than stacking shelves in my local supermarket.

 

What were your reasons for attending the course?

I could only get any sort of work in this area if I was qualified. I added on the diving Level 1 to expand the lessons I could teach.

 

What did you find most interesting about the course?

Applying the technical information to the practical stuff in the pool.  Whilst sitting through the theory sessions was interesting, I really wanted to get out and teach the children,

 

What part of the course was most beneficial to you?

I loved how we learnt to understand the way children worked, how we could teach them without them knowing about it. That was brilliant.

 

How will being on the course help you achieve your goals?

Whilst my main goal was to help myself through university I’ve found that the work is so rewarding that I’ll probably continue when I go back home.  I realised that most pools have got long waiting lists for swimming lessons, so whilst my main work will be office based, I can take part and help others at the same time. I’m really looking forward to that.

 

Has anything you have learned changed the way you work?

I wasn’t working before, but hope to continue to develop my own skills to help develop the swimming lessons.

 

What advice would you give to those considering a UKCC course?