How many lessons does an average adult beginner require to learn swimming?

Question

Hi there ... I'm 34 years old & evaluating whether to take private or group swimming lessons (I'm an absolute beginner). Since private lessons are priced on a per-lesson basis, I was wondering whether someone has any idea of the typical number of, let's say, 30 minute lessons an adult would need to learn swimming. Thanks, in advance, for your responses.

Answer 1

How long it takes to learn to swim depends on how willing you are to work at it and what "risks" you are willing to take. It can take a day and it can take a couple months.

The more motivated you are the less time it takes. When I teach children I teach by levels and it takes 8 lessons on average for children to complete a level. Motivated adults tend to do many levels at once so on average probably 4-8 lessons to swim in a basic manner.

So the answer also depends on what you want to do with swimming. If you want to learn to swim just to survive it probably won't take very long. If you want to learn strokes for competition or fitness, it will take a while.

Answer 2

For an adult it is worth your while to do private or semi-private.  If you belong to a club pool, you maybe able to find a swim team member and do it on the side.  Semi-private you would split the cost.  If you have access to a pool working on what they instruct you helps a lot.  IF you are not afraid of the water and are water adjusted you will learn much more quickly.

Provided that you are water adjusted, and are able to find a good instructor an average adult beginner can "learn" swimming in 6-10 lessons.  This is jump in, come up get your air and swim to the wall, rotary breathing, front crawl, back float, front float, front glide, back glide, tread water, roll over, sit dive

I have instructed difficult people that have learned in 10-20 lessons.  Some had had a child drown, were in a boat accident, had been thrown into the ocean, were hearing impaired, had down syndrome, CP, MS etc.

I am very good though.  These people were not water adjusted.  Getting kids water adjusted can take a long time.

When you sign up get someone experienced with adults.  Also people who have worked as teachers tend to be very good.  Talk with the instructor.  Trust is key.  Make sure that you let the instructor know if you are uncomfortable, and make sure that the instructor does exactly what he/she says.

Without the rotary breathing and endurance it is feasible to learn in only 4