Novice Swim FAQs What is novice swimming?
Novice swimming is the basic level learn to swim class at De Anza College in Cupertino.
If you are not sure whether this is the right class, read a description of typical students and goals of the class at: Novice swimming
How much does this class cost?
As of 2014, fees for classes are $31 per unit ($15.50 for this one-half unit class).
Basic college fees are $49, (slightly less for part-time students)
no matter how many classes you take (including a pass for unlimited rides on VTA buses and light rail) and an
(optional) parking permit is auto $26.65, $15 for mopeds/motorcycles. (A four quarter long auto permit is $90).
When is the class offered?
I teach novice swimming on Saturdays fall, spring and summer quarters.
Fall quarter (January to March) we have a shallow water beginning swim class P.E. 26B.
Fall quarter 2014 I will teach a novice swim class 10 a.m. to 11:50 on Saturdays starting Sept. 27.
Register for PE 26A-01L (CRN# 01895).
If you enroll in one of my weekend classes, please have your swimsuit, towel, swim cap, etc. and be ready to be in the water the first day of class.
How can I register for the class?
If you haven't ever been a De Anza student, or were here before, but not the most recent quarter, you must first apply to the college. If you have not been accepted as a De Anza student, you can't just show up the first day of class and be added.
De Anza swim classes often fill early and have a waitlist. My classes often have a long waitlist, but just as frequently we have people who are enrolled who do not attend the first day and then we take people from the waitlist.
Enrollment and registration steps (which you can do online) are at: http://www.deanza.fhda.edu/admissions/
Are there any prerequisites?
There are no prerequisites for these adult swimming lessons except to be able to register as a De Anza student. The class is held in 4 to 5 foot deep water, so you need to be tall enough to have your head above water that is 4 or 4 1/2 feet deep.
What equipment is required?
A swimsuit you can move in. For women a one piece suit is preferred; not strapless. For men: real swim trunks, not extreme bikini style or cut-off jeans.
Most of the time we get into the pool the first class session, so plan ahead and bring your swimsuit.
I really recommend a swim cap for my novice students as it will make it easier to learn to swim. Without a cap water just drips annoyingly into your face every time you go under and stand up. With a cap it sheets cleanly off of your head. A cap also keeps hair out of your eyes. Cloth/lycra types will keep your hair in place more comfortably than latex/silicone, but cloth caps don't stay on as well as latex/silicone. Don't try to fit all of your long hair into the cap, just tie back or braid it and use the cap over the hair on your head. You can find many styles of caps at most sporting good stores.
Chlorine in the water can hurt your gold jewelry and if you chip a stone off a ring we will never find it in the pool.
How warm is the water?
The water is warm enough for senior citizens exercise classes.
Where are the pools?
Just about in the center of the campus. Look for the blue square and rectangle at this link to a campus map:
http://www.deanza.fhda.edu/map/
A more detailed map of the P.E. quad pool area is at:
http://www.deanza.fhda.edu/map/pe_area.html
How do I get a locker?
How to get a P.E. locker at De Anza College
What is the instructor to student ratio?
De Anza requires a minimum of 20 students per class, but we usually have many more students. I'm lucky to have various former novice students and lifeguard students who want to become certified swimming instructors who come to help with the class. This way people can regularly get personal attention. The teaching assistants and I teach from in the pool, not up on the deck.
The first time people try to float or swim in deep water there will be a coach, often a lifeguard in the water with a rescue tube next to the swimmer.
No, this is not one of those classes where people are ever pushed into deep water.
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Do I have to take a written exam or write a term paper?
Because this class fulfills part of the general education requirements, a final exam and a short paper are required by the college (in all P.E. classes). I give a (mostly multiple choice, take home) final exam. Students in my classes who want to get an "A," can either write a short paper on a swimming subject or (this is the choice I prefer) write a journal of their experiences in the class.
What do students think about this class?
Go to: Letters from novice students
P/NP ( pass-no-pass) grading, waitlists and more
are covered at
Swim classes FAQs
If you are new to swimming you could learn a lot from swimming vocabulary.
Back to: Novice swimming
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