Our Team

Marian Zapata

Owner, CEO

Marian is a native from Granada, Spain. Marian and her husband moved to Maryland in the year 2000 and have two wonderful bilingual boys. After living in Bethesda for 6 years, and searching for language education, she realized there was a lack of effective language programs in the area.

With her studies and teaching experience, she decided to create a school that would provide students with the best language education. That is how International School of Languages was born. Marian loves seeing the progress of all the students at the school and learning about their trips and experiences. In her free time, Marian enjoys playing and reading with her kids, family bike rides, camping, outdoors, yoga, and traveling (especially to Spain to see her family).

May Seo

School Administrator

May was born in Korea. She first studied in Korea, but moved to London where she extended her studies. From London, her love for traveling brought her to Sydney, where she worked for the Australian university helping Korean students.

She moved back to Seoul, Korea, to be with her family and while there, she owned and operated a language school. After some time, she finally moved to the United States where she currently resides. Her curiosity and love for new cultures and for meeting diverse people have made her travel every chance she gets. She has faith in the power of education and she tries to support children in need wherever she travels to. In her free time, she enjoys photography, trying new foods, art, and bowling.

Asami

Japanese Instructor

I love teaching as it is amazing to see the students improve their Japanese languages abilities and be able to communicate in Japanese. I am looking forward to seeing you at the school!

Maria Elisa

Spanish Instructor

Maria Elisa is a native Spanish speaker from Mexico. She lived in Mexico City most of her life and moved to the United States a few years ago. She enjoys teaching Spanish because she loves the language and the culture associated with it.

In her free time, she loves art, music, nature and spending time with friends and family.

Johannes

French and English Instructor

Whether teaching English or my native French, nothing gives me more pleasure professionally than to help my students not only build language skills, but actually begin to use the language to express themselves and make improvements with growing confidence.

Lorena

Spanish Instructor

Lorena is a native from Venezuela.  She has a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources. When she moved here in 2016, she became a certified teacher and has been teaching since then.  One of her passions is to teach Spanish to children. She loves seeing how quickly they improve!

Her hobbies are reading, hiking and cooking.

Victoria

Spanish Instructor

Victoria is a native of Lima, Peru. She went to college in Lima and studied Psychology. She received a Masters in Psychology of Education. When she moved to the United States, she decided to continue her studies and obtained a Bachelor’s in Psychology.

Victoria is also a community interpreter and a Community Health Worker. During the years living here,  she has also dedicated herself to teaching the Spanish language. She has experience with all the ages and levels of knowledge. She loves and enjoys working with the students as they learn a foreign language, making it fun and entertaining so they enjoy the process. Her hobbies are reading, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

Rossy

Spanish Instructor

Hola! I’m Rossy, a Spanish instructor with over 19 years of passion-driven teaching experience.

Originally from Peru, I embarked on my educational journey in Law, eventually becoming a Law professor at the University of San Martin of Porres for a rewarding six-year tenure. Upon my relocation to Maryland, USA, my professional path took an exciting turn towards teaching Spanish.

I pursued certifications from both the Cervantes Institute and the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language.

Since 2011, I’ve been sharing my love for the Spanish language through private tutoring, group classes, and corporate programs at the International School of Languages and various other institutions.

I’m not only a Spanish instructor but also someone who loves to keep learning. I’m always exploring new teaching methods and open to using the latest technology in the classroom.

Join me on a language-learning journey that’s designed to be enjoyable and personalized. Let’s make language learning a great experience together! ¡Vamos!

Rosangela

Portuguese Instructor

My name is Rosangela Corte, but most people call me Rose. I am from Brazil and have lived in Maryland for the past 11 years. I have more than 25 years of experience teaching Portuguese to children and adults, initially in my hometown of Porto Alegre, located in the south of Brazil, and since 2008, here in the US.

When I am not teaching or taking care of my family I love to do arts and crafts and make quilts, as well as travel abroad.

Natalya

Russian Instructor

Natalya was born in Novorossiysk, Russia. She studied Russian Philology at the Kuban State University in Krasnodar, Russia, as well as her MBA. She has been teaching Russian for 25 years and really loves to learn about her students and assisting them with their goals of developing their language skills and cultural awareness.

When she is not teaching, she enjoys reading, hiking, swimming, and cooking!

Evelina

French Instructor

I have over 19 years professional experience in education while living in 6 different countries –  Bulgaria, France, England, Spain, The Netherlands, and the USA. Teaching and learning is my passion. I have a Bachelor in French language and literature, with a focus on Medieval Romance Literature and French Renaissance, and I love to teach literature and make connections between authors and books.

I also have master’s degree in International Education and bilingualism, and other different teaching certifications from The Uk and Spain. I speak 7 different languages, and I enjoy teaching language and culture to students at all levels, ages, and different language backgrounds.

Greg

German Instructor

Greg was not yet a teenager when he discovered his enjoyment of tutoring others to linguistic success. A bilingual native-level German and English speaker with intermediate Russian, he will be your guide to master the German language and explore the German language world in whatever detail is of interest to you.

For over a decade, Greg has worked in German Europe as a foreign legal advisor, educator and translator. At present, he greatly enjoys offering remote private German instruction to students at all stages of learning, helping everyone from vacationers and expatriates to government officials and CEOs of Fortune 500 corporations; with his help and your determination, he is confident that you will achieve your language-learning goals as he has helped former students achieve theirs!

Pamela

Chinese Instructor

Pamela was born in Beijing, China. She studied in Beining International Chinese University to obtain a degree as a teacher of Chinese as a second language to foreign students. She has been teaching in Chinese for over 30 years and in the United States since 2017.

Pamela enjoys watching her students grow and progress as they learn Chinese. In her free time, she enjoys visiting museums and art.

Young Ok

Korean Instructor

I was born in Korea, where I majored in German language and literature. I have more than 10 years of teaching experience with both children and adults. I love teaching because I love to meet people who have a passion for learning.

It is a great pleasure to be able to talk to them, share my knowledge, and help them improve. In my free time, I enjoy reading and travel.

Scarlet

Spanish Instructor

Hi! I am Scarlet.
I am graduate in Foreign Languages Applied to International Business with focus in the Spanish language. Currently I am DELE official examiner. I’ve been teaching Spanish since 2016 for children and adults. I am an enthusiastic teacher that loves to engage students with culture, art and latin songs.

I am from Brazil and like to spend time with my little daughter Sarah and my dog Luna. In my free time, I enjoy watching series, drinking coffee and traveling.

Susanna

German Instructor

Susanna, a German native, grew up in the South-West of Germany at the board of Switzerland and France. After finishing her education residing in several German cities in the South she moved to New York and finally to Maryland working in the biomedical field before becoming a German language professional and teacher.

She enjoys supporting professionals, adult and children of all ages in individual and group classes to master the German language and to immerse themselves in the German culture. She tailors her classes to the individual interests and needs of her students and makes the class a fun experience to acquire a language.

María

Spanish Instructor

Hello! I am María, I have been a Spanish teacher for many, many years, at least 12. I am Spanish and I am based in Madrid, the city where I was born. I have a Master’s degree in teaching my native language and I have a degree in Journalism too but teaching is what I love the most. I can say I have the great fortune of being able to make my vocation my way of life.

I love writing, reading, painting and animals. I am passionate about Psychology and everything that helps me know and understand people. What I like the most and what I value most about them is their sense of humor, I think it’s very important and helpful for everything. Good sense of humor makes everything fun and easier.

Beatriz

Spanish and French Instructor

I was born in Venezuela. I left my country at a very young age and lived in Europe for over 20 years. I am native Spanish and French speaker. I can speak Italian and have some knowledge of Portuguese. I studied modern languages at the University of Provence, France.

My career started as a private French teacher and an English and Spanish conversational tutor in different International Companies in Caracas, Venezuela. After that experience, I had the privilege to be a full-time teacher at the Alliance Française, where I really built my expertise and consolidated my love for teaching.
I believe teaching is my vocation, I love the exchange of knowledge, ideas and conveying culture and life experience through languages to children and young adults.

In my free time I do yoga, cycling and lots of reading. I love the outdoors and try to go on hikes as much as possible.

Sarah

French and Spanish Instructor

Sarah is from Pau, France, and pursued her studies in English Philology at UPPA University. Her journey in language education began in 2015, and she has extensive experience in teaching adult learners across various contexts.

Sarah’s teaching repertoire includes corporate programs and college-level courses, but she also enjoys teaching children and getting to see how quickly they learn. She is very creative likes to create strong relationships with her students and takes immense joy in witnessing their successful language learning journey.

In her free time, she loves traveling, writing (she is writing her first novel!), and cooking.

Camille

French Instructor

Camille is a native French speaker from France. She was raised in Paris, where she studied History at the Sorbonne. She came to the United States to pursue a graduate degree at Columbia University in NYC.

She has over 15 years of professional experience in higher education and international education. She has been teaching French at all levels to kids and adults.

Carmen

Spanish and Italian Instructor

My name is Carmen Giménez and I was born in Cartagena, a city in the south of Spain.
I studied English at John Moores University in Liverpool, Salford University in Manchester and “Universidad de Murcia” and became an English teacher at High school in 1996.

Some years later, I moved to Italy because of my husband’s job ( that’s why I speak three languages) and after doing some courses of ELE (Spanish as a Foreign Language) I started teaching Spanish at University in 2001. In 2014 I started training to become a DELE examiner and since then I have been working in some “Instituto Cervantes” in Europe, especially in “Instituto Cervantes” of Milan in Italy and Bern in Switzerland. In August 2023 me and my family moved to NJ (USA) for work reasons.

I love my profession as I really enjoy being with people and take great pride in observing the progress achieved by students. I enjoy travelling and learning about other cultures. I love art, cinema, sports and spending time with my friends and family.

Michel

French Instructor

Born in Rennes in France, I grew up speaking and studying French both throughout my studies and among family. As a professor, I have taught in several French universities for 25 years, giving me teaching experience that allows me to use a wide variety of teaching methods. In addition, I have 8 years of experience in teaching French in the United States.

I enjoy tailoring lessons for each of my students, as it helps mastering the contents of the courses and achieve success more efficiently. My PhD in management and marketing, as well as my specialty in intercultural management and communication, enables me to help my students apply what I teach to particular contexts, which they leverage in their day-to-day job. Sharing my knowledge with my students is one of my passions, along with traveling and discovering new cultures.

Gwladys

French Instructor

Raised in Tours, in the Loire Valley, France, Gwladys is a French native speaker and a former United Kingdom-trained teacher. Gwladys has over 20 years of French teaching experience in both regular and IB programs in England and the USA.

She has been teaching middle school and high school students the fundamentals of the French language, French grammar, pronunciation, literature, and culture. Gwladys is looking forward to helping you make progress on your French journey.

Gwladys earned a Master’s degree in English Language and British and American Literature from La Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris, France. She also received a Master of Education in Advanced Teaching from the USA.

Outside of school, Gwladys enjoys Agatha Christie novels, art history, cultural and music festivals, as well as discovering other countries.

Antonia

Italian Instructor

Antonia grew up and lived in Napoli for most of her life, where she also completed her studies. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Communication and Mass Media from Federico II di Napoli.

Since 2012, Antonia has been sharing her passion for the Italian language and culture as an instructor. She enjoys teaching the rich traditions, vibrant culture, and fascinating anecdotes from her Italian heritage.

In her free time, Antonia enjoys reading, exploring new cuisines, traveling, and indulging in sci-fi and comedy.

Nathalie

Spanish Instructor

Since 2009, I’ve been teaching Spanish and English in person to students of all ages and backgrounds. During this time, I was recognized by the school with a special award for my altruistic work. In 2022, I also started teaching online and it has been a fantastic experience.

I enjoy teaching because it’s rewarding to see people reach their goals in learning new languages. I also love sharing and learning about different cultures from around the world.

Dehbia

French Instructor

I graduated with a Master’s degree in Finance from the University of Tizi Ouzou in Algeria. I started teaching French at the International French Canadian School where I spent three wonderful years.

I absolutely love what I do. Seeing my students develop and grow as individuals gives me immense joy and a real sense of achievement. My goal is to make a positive impact on their futures, and I feel fulfilled when I can help them succeed.

Outside of teaching, I’m a big fan of European soccer, I love watching scary movies, and I’m always excited about my next travel adventure around the world.

Tamaki

Japanese Instructor

Tamaki, originally from Aomori, Japan, pursued her studies in Hokkaido, Japan, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. She has been teaching Japanese since 2010, both in Japan and the United States. With over a decade of teaching experience, she finds great joy in watching her students progress and improve their language skills.

In her free time, Tamaki enjoys studying Korean, watching K-dramas, and cooking and savoring Korean cuisine.

Elizabeth

Spanish Instructor

I have been working in communication and education for over 20 years. I taught university classes for a long time and here in the U.S., I worked with the ESOL teams in Elementary School, supporting Spanish-speaking children who are learning English. In my free time, I enjoy doing yoga, reading, and visiting museums.

Maria Gracia

Spanish and French Instructor

Hi! My name is Maria Gracia, I am from Venezuela and I live in Buenos Aires. I came to Argentina in 2018 and two years later, I started working as an online French and Spanish Teacher. Languages are my passion and I love teaching, that is why I studied Education in Modern Languages in my country. For me, learning a language is a way to understand and celebrate cultural differences.

In my classes, I try to develop different strategies to foster cultural understanding. Besides,I enjoy every class and I try to make my students feel confident and motivated. My family is my biggest treasure, I am a mother of 3 and expecting a new one. I like big families. I live here with my husband and my 3 kids. They are 10, 6 and 3 years old. A real adventure!  I am always happy and grateful for them!