A translator makes a nice addition to any interview.

But for Chiemi Yamamoto, it is an addition she would like to do away with.

Yamamoto, a freshman and member of the UCLA swim team, has a very full agenda. On top of intense workouts with the team and a full load of classes, she has to deal with a language barrier.

Born and raised in Fukuoka-Shi, Japan, Yamamoto has studied English since middle school. But learning a language in class does not translate to fluency in the real world.

"When I came to UCLA, I was not prepared for the language trouble," Yamamoto said. "I am better, but I still have a lot left to learn."

Yamamoto is learning more and more every day, and things are steadily coming together for her. Despite former Bruin swimmer Naoko Watanabe's presence as a translator to help Yamamoto with the complicated questions, the young Bruin is steadily picking up the language and said her confidence builds with each new linguistic experience.

Yamamoto knows she has no other choice, considering she can't fold up Watanabe, place her in her pocket and take her everywhere.

Moving from Japan to Los Angeles only weeks before school began in early September, Yamamoto has had to learn English the hard way - immersion. Yet teammates have lauded her efforts thus far.

"She is picking up the language quickly," fellow freshman teammate Nicolette Teo said. "She's such a trooper."

Leaving her family, friends and established life behind, with only occasional phone calls and frequent e-mailing to keep in touch, Yamamoto has found a second home with her new team.

"It is hard to communicate sometimes, but the coaches are so patient and nice, and that helps a lot," Yamamoto said.

Because of the language barrier, Yamamoto sometimes has difficulty understand swim coach Cyndi Gallagher's instructions in practice. But when such a problem arises, Yamamoto's teammates try to help explain the instructions to her by gesturing and repeating things more clearly.

But Yamamoto isn't the only one coaches and other swimmers must help out. She is one of a handful of international athletes on the UCLA swim team. Though most of the team is made up of California natives, with a few swimmers from other states, a small contingent hail from other countries. According to Gallagher, it's this select group that can have the biggest impact on a program.

"International students bring up the level of the entire team," Gallagher said. "They are happy to be in the place that they are and are incredibly teachable. They aren't as concerned with social aspects of college. ... They are at UCLA for the opportunity and take training very seriously."

Yamamoto might be considered the epitome of Gallagher's philosophy. She boasts one of the fastest 100 and 200-meter breaststroke times on the team already, winning the 200m breaststroke in UCLA's opening meet last month.

"I use Chiemi as an example for the team," Gallagher said. "I have to tell some girls to do things everyday. She's open to listening to changes and she's willing to change. Technique is something we work on constantly within the team, and with Chiemi it is easy. I tell her once, and she does it."

That is because Yamamoto is at UCLA for the opportunity to learn both in and out of the pool.

"I came to UCLA because I wanted to study other things. In Japan, if you are a swimmer, you have to study sports."

But while swimming is a big part of her life, Yamamoto is more interested in subjects like psychology. The thought of having to give up swimming in order to study her choice subject was out of the question for her. This eagerness to learn and absorb is just one reason she appreciates collegiate life in America.

It's also one of the reasons her coach and teammates appreciate her so much.

"She's coming from a totally different culture and she trusts that I am the best coach for her," Gallagher said. "People complicate that process, but with Chiemi it is simple. She gets it and she makes the change. To me, that's the sign of a great champion."

When Yamamoto is told she has the makings of a great champion, she smiles and shrugs it off. Yamamoto knows she has to work to improve, and that is why she is at UCLA - to become even better.

"The competition here is much more consistent than in Japan," Yamamoto said. "Before coming here, Nationals was the only meet where I could compete with swimmers at my level. Now, I am practicing with them every day."

Yamamoto not only appreciates the skills of her teammates, but also the interaction she has with them.

"There's more mutual respect here than in Japan," Yamamoto said. "The coaches and swimmers are very respectful of each other. Communication is emphasized at UCLA, whereas in Japan, the swimmers only spoke to the coaches when spoken to."

If communication is key, Yamamoto is steadily on her way. Though she continues to improve her English, she has already proven that speaking the language fluently isn't a required ingredient for success. Her results communicate more than words ever could.