Meet Jenna, Upper School English teacher

Today we want to introduce you Jenna Lowe, one of ISL’s newest Upper School English teachers. She shares her journey from trainee to full-time teacher, her passion for literature and culture, and what she loves most about being part of the ISL community. 

Could you please introduce yourself and tell us about your role at ISL?

I am British but I was born and raised in Luxembourg. I began working as a substitute teacher at ISL in January 2022 and then became a part-time teaching assistant working with the Stay ‘n’ Play team in November 2022. During this time, I was finishing my degree and setting up my teacher-training program which I started in September 2023. I am now an upper school English teacher currently teaching grades 7, 8, 10 and 11.

You are relatively new to ISL as a full-time teacher, but you completed your teacher training here. How did that experience shape your transition into this role? 

My experience as a trainee high school teacher at ISL was very positive. The school and all the staff members I worked with closely were very welcoming and played a major part in shaping me as a teacher. I began the school year not knowing where I was going to be working the following year. However, half-way through my trainee year, while I was training in London, I was happy to hear that I had secured a position to work as an upper school English teacher at ISL. When I left London to continue my training at ISL, my training had an extra focus, namely, how to prepare for my first year as a full-time teacher at ISL. When I began this year, I was grateful to have trained at ISL and to have worked closely with my colleagues already. This helped me have a confident and comfortable start to the school year.

What initially drew you to teaching English, and what inspired you to pursue it as a career?

As well as being passionate about literature and the study of language, I have always had a deep interest in culture and society. Studying literature is the way I chose to pursue this interest. By teaching English literature, I can share this interest and inspire my students to think more deeply about different cultures. I hope to make them open-minded and critical thinkers who have built a life-long passion for reading.

What do you love most about your work?

Seeing students engage enthusiastically with a piece of literature and asking thought-provoking questions is one of the things I love most about this job. Seeing their interest and intrigue develop as the year goes on is an extremely rewarding and heart-warming experience.

What does a typical day look like for you as an Upper School English teacher?

My day begins around 7:30 with breakfast from the cafeteria and checking over my lesson plans for the day. I then lead my grade 7 advisory group and teach my lessons for the day. I like to use my free periods for lesson planning and creating resources. I tend to do my marking after school or during the weekend. The unpredictable and dynamic nature of a day as a teacher is one of the reasons I chose to do this job. I love being on my feet as well as the fact that every day of the week is completely different from the next.

What have been some of the biggest lessons or surprises for you in your first year as a full-time teacher?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that while it’s important to have your lessons planned and to have your student’s learning goals mapped out for the coming weeks, you need to be ready for change. Monitoring how your students are responding to lesson materials and texts and adapting your lesson plans in real time ensures that your students are getting to most out of the lesson.

What do you think makes ISL unique?

I find the level of care and support given to students at ISL commendable. I was less aware of this support as a trainee teacher last year. However, as a full-time teacher I have seen first-hand the amount of care and attention that goes into supporting students behind the scenes.

What are some key skills you hope your students take away from your classes, not just academically but for life?

I hope that my students understand that the skills they acquire in English lessons aren’t just applicable in terms of literary analysis or critical discussions. I continuously remind them that English is a subject that prepares them to articulate their ideas clearly, to build and sustain sound argumentation and encourages them to think critically. These are very important life skills to have. Furthermore, the diverse range of texts and text-types covered in an IB DP Language and Literature course for example, helps students become more culturally sensitive and open minded. I hope to see my students become passionate about reading, in particular, I hope that they recognize how much can be learnt about society, culture and language from reading just one book. In today’s technology and media-obsessed world, I feel that this is an extremely important value to encourage.

Can you share a memorable moment from your time at ISL, whether from your teacher training or since becoming a full-time staff member?

It’s difficult to choose one memorable moment alone from my time teaching at ISL. One of my favourite things about this profession is how eventful and fast-paced your day is. It never ceases to surprise me just how many unique, insightful and quite often very funny things students come up with day to day.

Finally, how would you describe ISL in five words?

Positive, community-centred, open-minded, sport-focused and welcoming.