Sequim Gazette staff
Marybel Marks, formerly of Venezuela and Belgium, is now sharing in Sequim what she’s learned through her lifelong love of languages.
Marks has opened Translation Marks, a new business that provides lessons in both Spanish and French. She also provides professional translation services.
Marks said she’s enjoyed “the great opportunity to travel throughout several countries of the European Union.” That included eight years spent living in Belgium where, she says, she improved her French “to the point of speaking and writing like a native.”
She met her husband, the peninsula’s own Jeff Marks, while she was living in Venezuela. After a long romance and numerous adventures they’ve settled here.
Through her new business, Marks is providing Spanish and French classes for all ages, including older adults. “They’re for retired people who learned and have forgotten and for people who want to travel,” she said.
She said she also anticipates parents will enroll their high school students to help them “get ahead” in their Spanish class. She noted that French isn’t taught at Sequim High and that she provides a good alternative.
When it comes to learning a new language, the earlier the better, Marks said.
Toward that end she has scheduled summer language camps for children ages 7 and up. The Spanish camp will take place from 1-5 p.m. the first and second week of July while the French camp will be held the third and fourth week of July. Camps include vocabulary lessons, games and song. Répondez s’il vous plaît.
Tomar algo sobre sí
Marks earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Modern Languages from the University of the Andes in Venezuela. She is a member of the American Translator Association and is a Washington State Certified Translator.
Her diverse educational background includes time spent in the health care field. Marks is a nurse, which she said creates a high demand for her services as a translator in the medical field.
Marks will celebrate the grand opening of Translation Marks on Saturday, June 16, with a reception at her office, 123 Sequim Ave. Refreshments will include Spanish and French food.
