English Language Specialist Jane Thiefels spent five weeks working alongside the Ministry of Higher Education to conduct a nation-wide assessment of English teaching needs in the Republic of Benin. Thiefels led 11 meetings involving over 700 participants including primary school students, secondary school English teachers, regional administrators, school principals, private school directors, and university professors. She conducted a systematic survey of the resources available in Benin to help expand the teaching of English throughout the country, and wrote an in-depth-needs-analysis about her findings. After extensive research, Thiefels offered a comprehensive proposal for staffing primary school English classes, training new teachers, and offering professional development to current teachers.
Jane Thiefels holds a M.A. in Education from Antioch Graduate School. She has taught English at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poland, the Suzhou International Foreign Language School in China, the Northern Essex Community College in Massachusetts, and was previously an English Language Specialist in Togo.