Today we’d like to introduce you to Aleksandra Generalova.
Hi Aleksandra, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Before I started teaching at the university, I had already been working in education for years—as a schoolteacher, a private tutor, and eventually, a lecturer. Each role taught me something new, but when I stepped into a university classroom as a teacher for the first time, it just clicked. It felt like the job of my life.
Then came a big shift. I became a Fulbright finalist, got an admission, and moved from Russia to Minnesota to pursue a degree in TESOL.
Moving to Minnesota was a culture shock in the best way—kindness here feels like a default setting (Minnesota nice, huh? I heard it’s a whole philosophy here). I still remember the first time a stranger smiled and waved at me for no reason—I thought maybe they were mistaking me for someone else. I’ve learned to love the quiet beauty of Midwest life: long walks near Bde Maka Ska or Minnehaha Park, cozy cafés, friendly bookstore chats, and moments that feel slower but somehow fuller.
These days, I split my time between teaching, studying, and creating. I make content about life in academia, skincare, travel, and the little rituals that keep me grounded—like wearing perfume before class or starting my mornings with strong coffee.
It’s not always easy balancing two worlds: one academic, structured, and serious; the other creative, intuitive, and constantly evolving. But I’ve come to realize that I don’t have to choose. I’m proud of being both—a writer and a content creator, a teacher and a learner, a multilingual woman living between cultures and building a life that reflects all of it.
It’s a mix of many things, but it all feels like me. And I’m just getting started.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has it been a smooth road? Not even close.
When I was awarded the Fulbright scholarship, it felt surreal. I was proud, emotional, and full of hope. But just a few weeks later, everything changed. The program between the U.S. and Russia was suspended for the first time in history. I remember sitting there with the email open, feeling like the floor had been pulled out from under me. Long months of work, dreams, and plans—suddenly uncertain.
Even after I eventually made it to the U.S. to continue my studies, the path wasn’t smooth. Being an international scholar comes with so many invisible challenges—navigating a new academic system, feeling the pressure to prove yourself while quietly dealing with homesickness, culture shock, and sometimes just sheer exhaustion.
There were days I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere—too Russian for one system, too “different” for the other. And as someone who also creates content, I had to learn how to be visible online while processing a lot internally.
But I’ve also learned that difficult moments often carry clarity. That shutdown taught me a lot about resilience, about building Plan B (and C, and D), and about staying true to your vision even when things fall apart. I kept going. I kept teaching. I kept creating. And somehow, all of it led me here.
So no, it hasn’t been smooth—but it’s been meaningful. And I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Right now, I teach academic writing to first-year university students in the U.S., while also completing a graduate degree in TESOL. My background is in linguistics, foreign language education, and second language acquisition, and I’ve taught everything from school kids to working professionals. I’m especially passionate about helping multilingual students find their voice in English—because I know what it feels like to learn, think, and express yourself in more than one language.
At the same time, I’ve built an online presence around this unique intersection of academia and lifestyle. I create content about life as an international educator and post about everything from outfits and skincare to the quiet beauty of building my life from scratch in a new country.
What I’m probably most proud of is the space I’ve created—both in the classroom and online—where intellect, beauty, and creativity are equally welcome. Where you can be a serious scholar and still love pretty things. Where international students and young professionals can feel seen and inspired. Where vulnerability isn’t a weakness—it’s a strength.
I think what sets me apart is that I genuinely live at the intersection of a few worlds: East and West, academic and aesthetic, traditional and digital. I don’t try to fit into just one mold—and that gives me a certain freedom. I teach, I create, I research, I learn—and somehow, it all feels connected.
Any big plans?
In the short term, I’m focused on finishing my graduate program and continuing to teach. I’d love to present at an international conference next year, and eventually step into more collaborative research, especially on multimodal learning, language identity, and academic writing.
Creatively, I’m hoping to grow my platform even more and build something that lives beyond just TikTok and Instagram. Maybe a digital space or community for international women in academia. Maybe a podcast. I don’t have it all mapped out but I’m dreaming out loud and following the momentum.
Long term? I’ve decided to pursue a PhD in a field that might seem a bit different from what I’m doing now, but it still ties into my current expertise in some meaningful ways. While I can’t share all the details just yet, it’s a new area that will challenge me in fresh ways. It feels like the perfect next step to expand my knowledge and contribute to the academic world in a way that’s uniquely mine.
Though I’d love to stay in higher ed and carve out a hybrid career. I want to keep building a life where I can be all the things I am: an educator, a content creator, a friend, and someone who still gets excited by little details like a well-worded email or a good pair of shoes.
I’m also looking forward to more stability. After a few years of intense change, moving countries, and adapting to everything new, I’m ready to root myself a little deeper.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emalekko?igsh=cWFjNnFjanh6cm9n&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@emalekko?_t=ZS-8vOYboACmjY&_r=1
