Name: Daniel Glizer

Hometown: Toronto ON, Canada

Role: Program Support Facilitator

Favourite Quote/Words to Live by: "On ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." The Little Prince

Favourite place you’ve travelled? 

Barbados, Japan, and Kenting (Taiwan) to name just a few. Each one has a special vibe and is very memorable.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

When people talk, don’t just listen to what they say; try to also understand why they’re saying it.

What’s the best thing about Taiwan?

There are so many things to name, but if I had to summarize it, I would say the best is how comfortable Taiwan makes you feel. The convenience, the kindness of local Taiwanese people, the accessibility to all the beautiful places and experiences that Taiwan has to offer, and the culture of acceptance, these all make Taiwan a very comfortable place to live in. It is stimulating and exciting without being overwhelming – it’s easy to find something that fits your lifestyle and goals here.

How do you support Foresight teachers in your role as a Lead Teacher?

There are quite a few things that I get to do as a program support facilitator, and the greatest aspect of this role is that I get to work and build relationships with both the students, and the teachers.

One part of my role is meeting with teachers and together coming up with ways to make their teaching experience and the students’ learning experiences even better. I am sometimes also present in the classrooms to offer immediate support throughout the lessons.

Another part of what I do is provide support to students who are academically low or academically high and need a little bit more attention or additional resources to do well in class. I become acquainted with the learning topics and lesson plans of that particular class, and together with the teacher we brainstorm ideas and develop materials or strategies to help these students. We then either run small groups while taking turns, or provide these resources to the students and teach them how to use them in class.

Additionally, I provide relief and support on a larger scale by creating various documents, programs, or processes that make things more efficient for teachers. For example, I help teachers throughout the reporting period if they run into any difficulties or have questions, and I create short presentations and speak at meetings to help clarify things when needed.

When it comes to anything from lesson planning, to behavioural management, to various things specific to Foresight, I am happy to assist teachers and provide advice or work together to solve the issue.

What is the most rewarding part of your role?

Ultimately, I enjoy learning and helping others to learn and grow. By working closely with various teachers throughout the year, I have the opportunity to provide advice and support the teachers and the students. Together, we come up with new ideas and continue our professional development.

I really appreciate the exchange of ideas and the personal interactions I have with my coworkers and students, so any time I learn something new or we get to test out an idea with the teachers and see it help them or their students, I feel rewarded and encouraged.