Bio

BIO

I come from a fully Venezuelan family of distant European and Sephardic ancestry with high moral and educational standards. Since my Dad, an educator also, wanted us to learn native English, I studied from kindergarten through high school in Kansas City, Kansas, USA. That's where my teaching experience begins, though informally. Since high school, I was always the one to help others in English (my best subject).

I have always been learning. I read the complete (yes, complete) World Book Encyclopedia from the age of 10 through 14. The Guinness Book of Records was another favorite. Since then, I have never stopped learning new things. During my teen years I studied from French to World War II history. I was also heavily into computers. However, I was not the stereotype braniac. I was a fun and very well-known dude that went to all the parties. I truly developed my social side because beyond learning many subjects, I was also an MC (master of ceremonies), point guard on the basketball team, running back on the football team, hip-hop break-dancer and I was the lead singer of my high school rock band.

During one vacation in Venezuela, I joined a break-dance group from Venevision called The Breakers. We danced on Sabado Sensacional, The Miss Venezuela pageant, other TV shows, and I was even in a movie called The Halley Generation (La Generación Halley).

Out of high school, I took a pre-college year to study Photography and Jungian Psychology. Soon after, my parents decided it was time to definitely go back to Venezuela. I was the only one of my brothers that could afford a life change, so as the youngest son, I assumed the duty of accompanying my parents back to the homeland and seeing what the heck I could do there. At this time, I started studying Spanish intensely. Once back, I took many equivalency exams to be a Venezuelan high school graduate. I joined Magique, a local "miniteca" at the time as their English MC and Showman.

At the same time, I took up an English-speaking job in Sonorodven (a record company) as Label Manager. My job was to make records and represent the company internationally. I made many hit album compilations such as Hot Mix and Fast Tracks, and helped in the production of various artists such as Ricardo Montaner and Sentimiento Muerto. I was also a company representative at the world's most important music convention: the Cannes Music Festival in Cannes, France. I was actually the youngest record executive there. At about this time, I began to teach English privately to a friend that needed some urgent help. I also began many study courses in everything from time-management to marketing strategies.

I departed from the record label and dedicated fully to studying law as a general culture career that would improve my Spanish. At this time, I also tried some commerce like my clapper ancestor, from bathing suits to ties, all made or imported by friends. I later began formal studies in computers and began making and selling computers with another friend on weekends. Instead of Dells, we sold Nels. All this time, I continued teaching English on the side. As soon as I finished law school, I also studied broadcasting (locución) and got my Broadcasting Certificate at the School of Social Communications at the Universidad Central de Venezuela. This process was easy because I already had so much experience as a Master of Ceremonies (MC).

Upon obtaining my broadcasting certification (N# 26.640), I took a long break to learn new things and travel. I packed my skates and traveled through dozens of cities across the US and Southeast Asia. I spent nearly a year in the US where I participated in many seminars and short-courses on education and the English language. After skating cities such as Miami, Dallas, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Long Beach and more, I crossed over to Taiwan. There I skated all over the island from Taipei to Kenting. I also skated Indonesia and its island of Bali, Hong Kong and others. While in Taiwan, I worked as an international trade consultant with Leona Trading Corp., a local export company. At the same time, I also taught in a few Taiwanese English institutes. This is when I fully realized my talent for teaching and consulting, because I had the opportunity to compare my abilities with other teachers. In my classes, students were smiling all the time and an army of moms consulted me on their children's education. I also did some TV commercials there, both as actor and voice-over artist. I later returned to the US and did some private tutoring. On my way back to Caracas, I stopped by Miami where a friend that was starting a locally-caught fish business invited me to join him with work and capital. I decided to stay and study more in the meantime. I did all the office and public relations part in the fish business. After 6 months of stiff competition, we sold, but I gained another wonderful experience. I even swam in the Miami river backwaters with an endangered Florida Manatee.

Back in Venezuela, I decided to dedicate more time to education. I began coaching high level executives for symposiums and conferences, and teaching English at the corporate level. Soon an offer came to me from the Liceo Los Arcos, an elite Venezuelan bilingual school. I became Family Affairs Coordinator and occasional teacher. My student base for private tutoring and college counseling expanded there incredibly, with students from all over the Alto Hatillo and La Lagunita areas. During this period I began the Trinity College London TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) Certification procedures and preparation with Trinity College London instructors sent to Venezuela. When I finally took the Exam for Teachers (very high level test) about a year later, I got the highest score in all Latin America (95 over 100). I also began doing voice-overs for TV and radio commercials, radio production, and some dubbing. In the meantime, with some partners, I invested in a discotheque. It was called Blue Club, in Altamira and later in La Colina (USM). I was the public relations manager and promoter. The place was a hit, but due to partner dishonesty, we closed. That's when I decided to fully dedicate to what I enjoyed the most: private tutoring in high-level education.

Some time later, I met a fantastic and life-changing family in Altamira that provided me with one of the most inspiring student I've ever had, Saul. From then on, I didn't take any new students from southeast Caracas, and I began picking up students only in the northeast area and recommended by my Altamira family. I then left Los Arcos and gave business another opportunity through investments in the car sales business, but lost due to partner dishonesty again and auto thefts. Now, I understand that business takes shrewdness and full dedication, but my job as an educational consultant is so fulfilling that I do not see myself leaving it for any major business. After realizing this, I decided to solely dedicate to being the best College Counselor I could be. I only kept my investments in Magique, a fun events production and DJ service company run smoothly by an associate.

Over the summer of 2006, I proposed to the Hebraica Youth Center an English summer camp called Megateens. Under the coordination of Camp Directress Perla Sananes, I got together with four other counselors and we turned the concept into a reality. I was just another counselor. It turned out to be quite an unexpected success. Over 50 kids from 10 to 12 years old shared in fun and laughter with us. The following year, I participated as guest counselor and photographer/video maker (yes, I studied that too). I wish I had a clone to participate every year.

For two years I also did an experimental General Knowledge program in English called KBM (Knowledge is the Best Merchandise) at the Moral y Luces Herzl-Bialik school, in which only 6 students per class sat in a room full of colored bean-bags, where we discussed the most varied topics. I don't have the time to do it now, but it was great while it lasted, and the few that were in it thoroughly enjoyed it.

During this time, I applied to become a certified TOEFL Test Center Administrator, passing the international examination on the first try. This certification makes me an official TOEFL representative for Venezuela.

Today, as a full time College Counselor, I have a fantastic group of applicants and families. So far, I have gotten ALL my undergraduate and transfer students into the major academies, colleges and universities of the United States, such as Brown, U of Chicago, Cornell, U of Miami, Harvard, Parsons, Princeton, Emory, Columbia, Boston U, Georgia Tech, Emerson, Stanford, and most others.

I am also English Professor at the School of Social Communications of the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. I have an energetic group of students that I greatly appreciate, and which will lead the country to great things in the future. Besides the UCAB, I also share my knowledge at the Hebraica Cultural Center with a fantastic group of kids in the English discussion group called KIP (Knowledge is Power). These two activities, sponsored by my private practice, are my way of giving back to my community.

Parallel to all my activities, I am Editorial Director of Jewish Way magazine (www.jewishway.com), a fantastic US lifestyle magazine that covers everything from interior decorating to philosophy. I also do radio production and broadcasting. For two years, I co-produced a show on Jazz 95.5 called Mundo Curioso, with my good friend and producer/broadcaster Ernesto Garcia Uribe. Currently, I do voice-overs for American TV commercials, I am occasional DJ and host the English speaking events organized by my sound/lighting and production company Magique. My other fun business is Nelson's Place, nice rental apartments I have for visitors to Venezuela. I help my visitors with travel tips and deals. As a project, I am also writing a book that will summarize much of what I teach.

In the future, I plan to find a way extend the success and happiness of what I do to more people. There are wonderful people out there with incredible college and life potential, for whom I have no time, and that hurts me. However, for now I am giving my best to just a handful of friends, trying to help them be more complete and happy persons.

nelven@gmail.com - nelsoneas@hotmail.com