BOSTON – Alexandra Clarke, who served as captain of the Suffolk women’s basketball team as a senior in 2016-17, has since traveled across the globe to give back and teach English in South Korea. Ram Nation caught up with Clarke across the world for a Q&A.   

Since Suffolk, you’ve moved into the work field. Could you describe your current occupation, what company you work for and the role you have?
Currently, I am living and working in Seoul, South Korea. I have just signed on for my third year working at a private English academy in an area called Dongdaemun-gu. I am the head foreign teacher at our school, as well as a homeroom teacher to a class of adorable kindergarteners!

How did you land your job?
While I was in my last semester at Suffolk, I started looking into opportunities teaching abroad, thanks to inspiration from a professor in the Education department, Elizabeth Robinson. I found a company called CIEE, and thus began the process to getting my TEFL and TESOL certifications. I was able to move to Korea to teach full-time just eight months after graduating at Suffolk.

Is this your dream job?
Yes!

Describe your typical work day.
Between the hours of 9:45 a.m. and 2:15 p.m., I am the full-time homeroom teacher for my kindergarten class. No, they didn’t speak any English when they started at the school. No, I don’t speak any Korean to them in the classroom, and yes, I am the only teacher in the room! It’s quite a daunting task to teach kids that don’t speak any English, IN English, but they learn so quickly at such a young age, and are forming simple sentences on their own after just a couple of months. At 2:15 p.m., the kindergarteners leave and students ranging in ages from 5-13 come to the school for after-school English lessons, where we teach more advanced classes like debate, writing fluency and grammar; we even have a drama class! The school day ends at 6:35 p.m.

What’s the most surprising part of your job?
The differences in learning expectations between Korean kindergartens, and those in America. I was teaching grammar to my kindergarten class my first year!

What’s the biggest perk of your job?
All the hugs, and “I love you’s!”

What are you most proud of?
Implementing a school-wide discipline and reward system for ALL of our students! It’s based on a simple color chart, making it simple for older returning students, as well as beginner English learners.

What is your favorite memory at work?
My favorite, but also most emotional was watching my students graduate from our kindergarten program. I felt like a proud mother of 12!

How did Suffolk prepare you for your role?
Suffolk, and the people I met there and interacted with, are the whole reason I’m in Korea teaching now! Suffolk helped me network, and gave me the resources I needed to pursue my current career. Also, even as a student-athlete I was able to participate in more than one volunteering and in-the-field program, that further helped me solidify what I wanted to do post grad.

What’s your favorite Suffolk memory?
Winning against Albertus Magnus my junior year on Senior Night. The win was a complete team effort, and my favorite game I’ve ever played in! Also, I’m pretty sure we set the record for most points scored in Suffolk women’s basketball history, which was a fun added bonus.

What advice do you have for current students?
Network! Get involved with programs through the school that are offered (Spare Change News and Peace Circles are two that I worked with), and take advantage of living in such an amazing city as Boston!

What made you choose Suffolk?
It was a completely spontaneous decision, and a matter of complete luck that I met Coach Leyden just a few short weeks before I had to make my final decision for school. I feel so grateful that I chose Suffolk!

Outside of work, what is your life like? I.E. family, kids, what do you do for fun, etc?
In Korea, I love hiking, eating all the delicious food and having picnics by the many different parks bordering the Han River. On weekends and holidays, I have been lucky enough to be able to travel all over East and Southeast Asia, which has been an absolutely incredible experience.

Ram Nation has the chance to stay in touch with Alexandra Clarke by following her on Instagram at @clarkeeeyyy. If anyone has any questions about teaching abroad, in Korea or elsewhere, please feel free to reach out! 

Are you a Suffolk Athletics alum who would like to revisit with Ram Nation? Contact Sports Information Director Amy Barry at abarry7@suffolk.edu.