About CELS
Our Mission
CELS is a next-generation language school committed to meeting the unique language learning needs of skilled immigrants in Canada.
Our mission is to empower newcomer professionals by providing language instruction that goes beyond basic communication skills, fostering both linguistic proficiency and intercultural competence.
Our programs are designed to immerse students in authentic, real-world materials that reflect Canada’s diverse society and global connections.
Meet Dr. Alisa Zavialova, the Founder and Managing Director of CELS
Alisa Zavialova, PhD is an accomplished professional with over a decade of experience in second language education and newcomer integration sectors. Alisa moved to Canada in 2013 to pursue her graduate studies in Applied Linguistics and TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language). Since then, she has held a variety of roles including teaching, curriculum development, and program management. Throughout her teaching career, Alisa has been witnessing challenges faced by many immigrant professionals who struggled to achieve the required level of English proficiency and lacked the essential soft skills for building successful careers and lives in Canada. In 2023, motivated by her passion for helping immigrants succeed, Alisa founded Calgary Essential Language Solutions (CELS). Alisa’s vision was to create high-quality language training programs for newcomer professionals and bridge the critical gap in second language education in Canada.