Dr. Jenn Chenkin

Subject: Language Arts

What will my child walk away with? My classes combine academic rigor with genuine care. Drawing on nearly two decades of teaching experience, from Grade 1 classrooms to graduate seminars, I help students develop the communication skills that allow them to fully explore their thoughts and ideas.I believe that effective communication is one of the most valuable skills a child can learn. By strengthening vocabulary, grammar, writing, and engaging in classroom discussion, students gain the confidence to express complex ideas clearly and persuasively. My background in literature and cultural history from medieval literature to the twentieth century, allows me to introduce students to a wide range of texts, perspectives, and historical contexts. Students learn to engage thoughtfully with ideas, ask meaningful questions, and develop their own interpretations. Teaching across three continents and working with students from diverse backgrounds has shaped my approach to education. Literature becomes a vehicle for empathy, helping students understand both themselves and the world around them.

What can families expect? Families can expect a caring and invested teacher who approaches every class with enthusiasm and purpose. I carefully plan each lesson while remaining responsive to the needs and interests of the students in the room. I challenge students because I believe in their potential; they are invariably capable of far more than they realize. By connecting literary concepts to real-world issues and relatable examples, I help students see the relevance of their learning and discover their own voice, interests, and passions.

What does class actually feel like? My classroom is warm, welcoming, and intellectually engaging. Students learn to balance humour with rigor, curiosity with discipline, and creativity with careful analysis. I take students’ ideas seriously, encouraging them to develop their thinking further while modeling the habits of thoughtful inquiry and respectful discussion. Students frequently describe my classes as both challenging and enjoyable, a place where they feel supported while being pushed to grow.

How do you challenge a curious mind? I introduce students not only to great works of literature but also to the research methods and critical frameworks scholars use to study them. Students learn how ideas are analyzed, debated, and refined within academic communities.By exploring the history of intellectual thought and encouraging interdisciplinary connections, I help students see knowledge as an interconnected web rather than a collection of isolated facts. This approach equips them with lasting skills in critical thinking, research, analysis, and communication, skills that extend far beyond any single text or subject. 

Credentials and Experience I hold a B.A. in English and History from the University of Toronto, as well as an M.A. in Eighteenth-Century Studies and a Ph.D. in English Literature from Queen Mary University of London. My graduate studies were supported by the Queen Mary Overseas Research Student Award and the Principal’s Studentship. For more than twenty years, I have taught students ranging from Grade 1 through graduate school, helping learners at every stage develop confidence, curiosity, and intellectual independence.