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.

學生甲：我覺得每個女孩在人生的某個階段都想成為一條美人魚。

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

“美人魚”教練：我們都有這樣的想法：美人魚美麗、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：學習如何做海豚式打腿、手倒立以及在水下飛吻似乎在學生當中激起了很大反響。

學生乙：游泳讓我覺得很快樂。我學著像一條美人魚那樣游泳，因為我從很小的時候就想變成美人魚。

記者：而且穿著緊身泳衣游泳要求腹部和肌肉的力量，這樣對身形塑造也有幫助。