The First Swimming Lesson
A free A1-level English story for language learners, readable online in 5 languages, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
At forty, Matilda is afraid of deep water, but she joins a swimming class for adults and learns to float.
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Matilda is forty years old. Today she has her first swimming lesson. She stands at the door of the pool. Her hands are cold.
She is afraid of deep water. She never learned to swim as a child.
Inside, six other people stand by the pool. They are adults too. A young teacher in a blue shirt waves. "Hello! Come in," she says.
A man next to Matilda says, "I am nervous too. I am fifty-five."
A woman says, "Last week, I was scared. Now I like it."
Matilda smiles a little. They sit and put their feet in the water. It is warm.
"Today we only float," the teacher says. "Lie on your back and look at the roof."
Matilda goes into the water. It comes up to her chest. She lies back. The teacher puts a hand under her head. The water covers her ears. Everything is quiet.
"Breathe slowly," the teacher says. "I will take my hand away."
The hand goes. Matilda does not sink. She floats!
"You float!" the man says. Everyone claps.
Matilda looks at the roof and opens her arms wide.
