Speaking Part 1

1. Can you swim?/Did you learn to swim when you were a child?

Indeed I can! I am an avid (experienced) swimmer. My parents actually signed me up for swimming lessons when I was just a baby. I signed up for a swim team shortly after, and swam competitively until my high school years. Furthermore, my father is a swimmer and always loved to take me on swimming adventures. So, I’ve always been a water person (someone who likes water activities).

2. Are there many places to swim near you?

Yes, there are! As I’m living in a big city pretty far from the coast, there are plenty of public swimming pools. Furthermore, there is a large lake next to my house which some people swim in to beat the unbearable (impossible) heat in the summer. However, the lake often emits an unpleasant odor and is full of chemical run-off waste, so I would never take part in this.

3. Is swimming very popular in your country?

Not really! Surprisingly, there are a lot of people who don’t know how to swim in my city, as it isn’t very close to the coast. I think it may be related to that. However, people who live along the coastal cities in my country tend to know how to swim well.

4. Why do many people like swimming?

Well, I think there are a few reasons. For one, it’s a good way to beat the heat in the summer. Secondly, it’s a good form of exercise, as it’s low intensity and works all body parts at once. Lastly, it’s simply a fun and relaxing activity for many and is a way to make people gather.

5. What do you think are the benefits of swimming (or, the benefits of knowing how to swim)?

First and foremost, swimming is a tool which can save your life, as well as the lives of others. Secondly, it’s a beneficial form of exercise, as it uses all the muscles in your body at the same time and is low-intensity. Lastly, swimming can be a form of therapy if you suffer an injury. All in all, it’s certainly worthwhile to learn.

Vocabulary

• Avid:  experienced
  Eg: He is a avid bike rider
• Water person: someone who likes water activities
  Eg: She is the best water person in the whole team.
• Unbearable: impossible
  Eg: The incident is unbearable.
• Run-off waste: As the water runs along a surface , it picks up litter, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizers substances.
  Eg: The Ganga river is full of run off waste.