TI Teacher Training
Total Immersion is the most effective swimming instruction in the world and our trained Teaching Professionals have the tools and skills to teach anyone to swim well and enjoy it completely
As of August 2007 we are compiling a list of suitable applicants who have expressed interest in becoming a Total Immersion Teaching Professional. Our immediate priority is to train people who want to work with us on our workshops and we intend to start our training program December 2007. The information below provides a broad outline and will be subject to review - please take the link at the bottom of the page if you would like to be considered for this unique opportunity
Everyone knows or has seen countless people who can't swim as well as they would like or can't swim at all! An article of faith among Total Immersion teachers and coaches is that Anyone Can Learn To Swim And Swim Well!
Total Immersion is the most effective swimming instruction in the world and our trained Teaching Professionals have the tools and skills to teach anyone to swim well and enjoy it completely. Our goal is to make TI instruction available to anyone who wants it and to provide more opportunities for people who love swimming, to earn a good living doing what they love
Because so few people can swim well, there is literally a limitless pool of students for you to teach. You can not only become successful doing something you love but you'll give others a priceless gift at the same time. And you don't have to be an experienced swim instructor or a highly accomplished swimmer to become a TI Teaching Professional
COACHING WITH TOTAL IMMERSION IN THE U.K.
A quick summary
Why teaching Total Immersion is a unique opportunity:
- Countless millions would love to be able to swim much better than they do and/or would benefit greatly if they could. For most, the ability to swim well will add immensely to their quality of life. Virtually any person you meet is a potential client, making the market for your services almost limitless
- For many people no matter what their age the ability to swim well will be a priceless tool for maintaining health and staying youthful and fit
- Swimming is universal. Among all sports or fitness activities, Swimming is unique in three ways:
- It is not simply a fitness activity; it's also an essential life skill; for young children and those who live around water, even a critical safety skill
- It's widely recognised as perhaps the most complete fitness/wellness activity
- It's ideal for all ages from toddlers to seniors
By teaching TI, you will be teaching swimming in the most unique way. TI instruction inspires unequalled loyalty, passion, and emotional connection among our clients. People taught by TI instructors feel their swimming is transformed and often tell everyone they know how great their TI experience was.
Who is a candidate to become a Total Immersion Teaching Professional?
We are looking for serious and highly motivated candidates. Our objective is to build a network of highly professional teachers, with a desire to devote a significant amount of their time to delivering swimming instruction. We seek candidates with the following qualities, and will accept those with the strongest combination of qualifications:
- A heartfelt passion for the ethos of Total Immersion
- Dedicated swimmers - we believe to teach TI you must practise it regularly and enthusiastically
- Sociable, personable and mature. People skills are essential
- Life experience: experience in coaching and teaching (not just swimming, but other forms of athletic skill or physical discipline e.g. yoga, Pilate's, martial arts) are valuable, as are management or small business operating experience in preparing one to be successful in operating a swim instruction business (should you choose that pathway)
- The necessary swimming qualifications are (a) Certification to at least level 1 ASA (or an equivalent), (b) membership of the IOS, (c) Successful completion of a TI workshop/camp
What are the benefits of a career with Total Immersion?
Total Immersion Teaching Professionals will have the privilege of carrying a credential confirming their qualifications and of being listed on the TI website directory of Teaching Professionals. They will be approved to teach Total Immersion any time, any place, to any student, so long as they maintain their certification in good standing and comply with the terms of the TI UK coaching agreement. It is clear that this credential will be the most trusted indicator of the best instruction available in the world of swimming. Please be advised: The only coaches permitted to publicly advertise themselves as Total Immersion instructors will be those who have successfully completed all required elements of our teacher training and have signed an agreement with Total Immersion Swimming Ltd
How does it work?
Assuming you meet the requirements already outlined above:
- Successfully complete Unit One of our Teacher Training at SwimShack
- Start your interning program of at least 4 Total Immersion Workshops - working alongside experienced TI instructors
- Successfully complete Units Two and Three of our Teacher Training - you don't need to complete all the interning before taking these units
- Once you have successfully completed all three steps and are 'signed off' as being competent, you will be invited to complete a coaching agreement that allows you to teach TI independently, initially 1:1 only (details of this agreement will be supplied on request once we have your completed application)
- You will also be able to work as a paid TI Workshop assistant - for some of you this may be all you are looking for, in which case read on
- Teach at a minimum of 2 workshops per year, either paid or unpaid, to maintain your level of certification. Progressing to higher levels of certification will be on merit having proven continued development on deck at TI workshops and/or by workplace assessment, as deemed necessary
Method of Instruction
Its essential to the development of every TI Teaching Professional to have achieved a level of mastery of the drills and skills they will be teaching. During TI Teacher Training each trainee will learn, as well as teach, each drill and skill developed by TI Head Coach & TI CEO Terry Laughlin and his team of TI Teaching Professionals. All instruction will take place at SwimShack in Loughborough under the tuition of UK Head Coach Ian Smith. There will be three 2-day units to complete and three trainees under tuition on each weekend. One trainee will be the 'instructor', one the 'student swimmer' with the third observing and taking notes - each trainee will be expected to take their turn performing each role
- Unit One - 'Freestyle Weekend Workshops': is where you learn the skills necessary for working at one of our freestyle weekends. If becoming a workshop assistant is all you desire right now there is no requirement to complete the next two units. However, this will not allow you to advertise yourself as a TI instructor or qualify you for inclusion on our coaches page
- Unit Two - 'Advanced Freestyle' & 'Short-Axis Basics': is where you learn how to develop an individual's freestyle to a higher level and learn to teach the foundational skills for Butterfly and Breaststroke
- Unit Three - '4-Stroke Instruction': once completed you will be equipped to teach all four swimming strokes the Total Immersion way
Application: To be considered for acceptance on our training program, please send the following:
- A covering letter which outlines your motivation for wanting to become a TI Teacher & your goals as such. Include 3 references we may contact after successful completion of the full program
- A resume noting the date & site of the TI workshop you attended, including the names of the instructors. Include any professional or life experience you consider helpful to your development & performance as a TI Teaching Professional, including details of the swim teaching qualifications you already hold
- A diary or log of a week (or 3 pool sessions) of your own TI practise from the past month with as much notation & description as you wish to include. This will help us understand your thinking process in your own pursuit of mastery
- A brief video (5 minutes or so) showing you performing 25 meters of Fish, Multi-Under Switches, Zipper Skate, Multi-Zipper Switches and whole-stroke freestyle. Surface video is sufficient in either VHS tape, Hi8, mini-DV or on DVD - you may also post this on the internet and send us the link for viewing
Tuition Fees
Each unit if booked and paid for separately will be £399. Book and pay for all three units up front and the total cost will be £1050. Please note this is for your tuition only and does not include costs of travel or accommodation, either for the training weekends or when interning on freestyle weekends
Total Immersion Teacher Training Weekends
Our next training will start in July 2008 and applications are now invited for our consideration
To apply email Head Coach Ian Smith