Roopa Suchak

Reporter： If youve ever dreamt of living life under the sea， the Philippine Mermaid Swimming Academy in Manila could be the place for you. Coaches teach swimmers how to master the 1）plexiglass and rubber mono-fin tails and 2）frolic like the real mythical aquatic creatures.

Student A： Well， I think every girl wants to be a mermaid at one point in her life.

Reporter： The school started as a creative way to teach swimming to young children. Coaches soon found that half human-half fish people could be good role models.

Mermaid Coach： We have this notion that the mermaids are beautiful， are playful， are fun， and adventurous and graceful， so that is what we want to impart to the kids also.

Reporter： Learning how to do dolphin kicks， 3）handstands and blow kisses underwater seems to have 4）made a splash with the students.

Student B： I feel happy because I get to swim. I get to swim like a mermaid， because I wanted to be a mermaid since I was young.

Reporter： And swimming in a skin-tight suit requires 5）abdominal and muscle strength， making it for a good workout too.

學(xué)生甲：我覺(jué)得每個(gè)女孩在人生的某個(gè)階段都想成為一條美人魚(yú)。

記者：這所學(xué)校開(kāi)始是想以這一種新方式來(lái)教小孩子游泳。然后教練發(fā)現(xiàn)“半人半魚(yú)”是不錯(cuò)的模仿榜樣。

“美人魚(yú)”教練：我們都有這樣的想法：美人魚(yú)美麗、有趣、幽默、大膽并且優(yōu)雅，這也是我們想要教給孩子們的東西。

記者：學(xué)習(xí)如何做海豚式打腿、手倒立以及在水下飛吻似乎在學(xué)生當(dāng)中激起了很大反響。

學(xué)生乙：游泳讓我覺(jué)得很快樂(lè)。我學(xué)著像一條美人魚(yú)那樣游泳，因?yàn)槲覐暮苄〉臅r(shí)候就想變成美人魚(yú)。

記者：而且穿著緊身泳衣游泳要求腹部和肌肉的力量，這樣對(duì)身形塑造也有幫助。