Hofstra, like many other Division I schools around the nation, pools many of its athletes from around the world. That begs the question: what do players who move to Hempstead from other countries go through to overcome one of the biggest obstacles to living in the U.S. – the language barrier?

German Plotnikov, a junior on the men’s basketball team, said that although he studied English in his hometown of Minsk, Belarus, his transition to America wasn’t as easy as he anticipated.

“When I first came, I could say small things like ‘I’m open’ or like four or five sentences to explain what I’m trying to do,” Plotnikov explained. “For the first four months I completely shut down, I was barely talking because I couldn’t communicate. Then [later that year] it sort of clicked for me, and I realized I can speak fluently. I understand what people want from me. I can talk when people talk to me.”

Dagny Run Petursdottir, one of the freshmen on the women’s soccer team who hails all the way from Iceland, has had similar experiences.

“Sometimes I forget a word and I just stop talking; it’s hard to engage in a conversation [and I feel I] have to be fast,” Petursdottir explained. “I’ve never been in a country where everybody only speaks English, and I’m not quite there yet.”

Petursdottir felt that she’s lucky that she’s not the only Icelandic player on the team, citing Thorhildur Thorhallsdottir who shared the same sentiment.

“I think it’s really good that I have … another Icelandic person with me on the team and that we’re going through this together,” Thorhallsdottir said. “[Petursdottir] helps me a lot; I would probably be a lot more insecure if I was alone.”

Just as there is more to life than the game, language can present challenges off the field.

One of the biggest differences Thorhallsdottir has noticed is the change in her character from home to Hofstra, particularly her struggle to deliver jokes. She explained by the time she finishes translating a joke from Icelandic into English, the conversation has moved on and she feels she’s simply not fast enough. Or, if she is fast enough, jokes get lost in translation.

“My personality is so different in English than in Icelandic; my humor is zero,” Thorhallsdottir said. “I have no humor in English, but hopefully it comes with time.” 

Both of the players said that they find relief in being able to fall back on their teammates and their patience. 

“The girls have been really welcoming and understanding that, you know, I’m not the best in English,” Petursdottir said.

“The girls have helped me with the language [barrier] [by] being patient and understanding because I freak out when I don’t know words, but they’re just so calm,” Thorhallsdottir concurred. 

Petursdottir and Thorhallsdottir acknowledge the importance of seamless communication when they take the pitch for the Pride. That doesn’t always mean it’s possible, and the coaching staff isn’t blind to this dilemma. 

Women’s soccer head coach Simon Riddiough has coached for over 20 years and has seen many international students walk this same path.

“It’s a learning process; [the coaching staff and I] know there’s going to be some kind of speed bumps along the way whether it’s a language or cultural barrier,” Riddiough said. “Understanding English as a second language, recognizing sarcasm and all of the nuances of English language.” 

Players and coaching staff alike agree that one-on-one communication was one of the best ways to overcome the language barrier.

“I think overall, [the players are] more comfortable talking to me individually so if they need reassurance or they need to understand something a little bit more, they’re more comfortable now, they’re used to me now,” Riddiough said. “So, the communication has [gotten] better, which makes the messaging easier on the fly, there’s more comfortability and understanding between all of us and the international players now, so I think we, moving forward, we’re progressing well.”

“It’s not scary to talk to [the coaches] at all,” Thorhallsdottir explained, enjoying how direct the coaching staff is with her. “So yeah, if [I] have any questions, [I] just go to the coach and he’s understanding and will tell you what you can do better.”

 “Because we [are] used to dealing with international [players], we’re probably a little more patient than most coaches, a little bit more giving and understanding of where their starting point is,” Riddiough said. “So I think we’re all moving in the right direction.”

Pieke Roos, a freshman field hockey goalie, has been learning English back home in the Netherlands since she was four years old. The challenge for her, however, was learning the narrow scope of new, field hockey-specific terminology that was different than what she used her whole life in the Netherlands. 

“I did kind of struggle with certain coaching call outs on the field,” Roos said. “I’m a goalkeeper, and you have to be very direct in communication to say, where the ball is, where your mark is, and the terms are different in Dutch.”

Roos even joked that the first two weeks of preseason felt like being in a classroom prematurely as she relearned all of the terms she needed to play.

“It’s almost like a little bit of studying that I had to do,” Roos explained. “Your saves are a reflex; also your callouts are a reflex.”

Ultimately, Roos felt that it boils down to confidence, which stems from repetitions for both the physical saves and the verbal calls for her teammates.

“[For example] in the game against Sacred Heart, I was just having a lot of fun,” Roos said. “I felt confident in myself, and that makes it that you don’t overthink what you’re going to say.” 

Whether on the court or the field, the Pride have shown time and again that they have the dedication to overcome any obstacle that comes their way. 

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics