Teesside’s international students take the plunge

Great lengths have been taken to help international students from Teesside University learn how to swim.

The University’s sport and well-being team got involved in setting up an eight week programme of swimming lessons supported by the Amateur Swimming Association and Middlesbrough sport and leisure.

The lessons at the Neptune Centre in Middlesbrough have been led by the centre’s swimming instructors with help from Teesside University student volunteers. And for some of the group learning to swim it was their first ever experience of a pool.

Johnny Voza Zola, 27, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, said: 'There just wasn’t the availability where I lived, so I’d never seen a swimming pool before.'

The BA (Hons) Business Management student added: 'It’s been really exciting learning how to swim as I’d always had a bit of a fear, but the first time I got in the water it felt great and I soon relaxed.

'Before I joined the group I’d felt a bit ashamed at not being able to swim but I’m now realising that many people not know how to swim. I’m really enjoying learning.'

Nsisong Etukodo, 31 of Nigeria, is a first year BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering student. He said: 'It’s always been a dream of mine to learn to swim. The support of the group has been wonderful.'

I wanted to come and learn at the best place He added: 'I came to Teesside University because of its high ranking for the subject I wanted to study. I wanted to come and learn at the best place. When I heard about the swimming group I jumped at the chance to take part, as I’d always had a fear of the water and phobia that I would sink.'

Pip Bell, Sports Development Officer at the University, said: 'The aim of the lessons is to encourage the students to lead a healthy lifestyle, make new friends, utilise local facilities and to continue swimming once they have learned how to swim.'

BSc (Hons) Sports and Exercise Applied Science students Hannah Oxley, 21, of Scunthorpe and Louise Rooney, 21, of Durham, have been helping the international students learn to swim and gain confidence in the water.

Hannah said: 'Louise and I got involved in volunteering through the SUNEE Project (Sport Universities North East England) which aims to get more people involved in sport. The progress that the swimmers in the group have made in just a few weeks has been incredible.'

Louise said: 'It was a surprise to find out that some the international students had never even seen a swimming pool before, but they have really taken to the lessons.'

---