About CELS
Our Mission
Calgary Essential Language Solutions (CELS) is a private language school serving adult learners in Calgary as well as across Canada. We offer high-quality instruction in English (ESL), French, and Spanish, with programs designed to meet academic, professional, and personal goals.
Our courses include general and business English, official language exam preparation (CELPIP, IELTS, TEF, and TCF), academic English, beginner and intermediate French, and Spanish for travel and conversational purposes. Classes are available in both in-person and online formats, providing flexible learning options.
At CELS, we are committed to helping adults build confidence and practical language skills in a supportive learning environment.
Meet Dr. Alisa Zavialova, Founder & Executive Director
Alisa Zavialova, Ph.D. is an accomplished educator, teacher trainer, curriculum designer, and educational leader with extensive experience working with international students, immigrants, and refugees across university, college, and community-based settings. She completed her graduate studies in Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario. Since then, she has held a variety of roles including teaching, curriculum development, and program management in both tertiary and community-based educational settings.
Alisa brings a strong academic foundation and a deep commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion to her work. Throughout her career, she has been driven by a sense of social responsibility to support newcomers and Canadians alike in developing the language, communication, and cultural skills needed to thrive in Canada. Motivated by her passion for language teaching and learning, she founded her own language training agency: Calgary Essential Language Solutions (CELS). Alisa’s vision was to create high-quality language training programs for adult learners and bridge the critical gap in second language education in Canada.Alisa relocated to Calgary from Ottawa in 2022 and is happy to call Alberta her new home, where she lives with her husband and two dogs. Alisa is fluent in English, Russian, Ukrainian, and Spanish, and is currently learning French.
Meet Our Team
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Lorelei Lachambre, ESL Instructor
Lorelei Lachambre holds a Master of Counselling degree from the University of Calgary and is currently employed there as a Career Counsellor in the Faculty of Graduate Studies. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as an Additional Language from the University of Saskatchewan.
Lorelei has taught Intermediate English since 2018 through Southeast College in Saskatchewan and Bow Valley College in Calgary. She is thrilled to continue teaching English through Calgary Essential Language Solutions. With a background in social work, Lorelei is passionate about helping students find their voice.
Originally from Saskatchewan, she moved to Calgary in 2021 with her husband and 3 children. Lorelei enjoys volunteering with the Making Changes Association and is on the Board of Directors for the University of Calgary Alumni Association.
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Jason Andrews, ESL Instructor
Jason Andrews is an educator and applied researcher with over a decade of experience in postsecondary education. He has taught English for Specific Purposes and TESOL at Bow Valley College, where he also co-developed government-funded “Job-Ready” programs and contributed to a national Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) microcredential initiative.
Currently the Associate Program Director and Internship Coordinator for City University of Seattle’s MEd in Leadership program in Calgary, Jason has led curriculum and policy projects at Sundance College and supported faculty development through conference presentations and professional committees. His research explores transformative leadership, educational policy, and language education, and he is completing his Doctor of Education at the University of British Columbia.
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Galyna Salyzhyn, ESL Instructor & CELPIP Trainer
Galyna Salyzhyn is a certified ACE TESOL instructor with a Master’s degree in Translation and Interpretation Studies and a strong background in international relations. She has over 15 years of teaching experience in both university and language school environments.
Since 2022, Galyna has served as Lead Teacher for the Survival English Program for Ukrainian newcomer evacuees, a program that has helped over 6,000 newcomers improve their language skills and integrate into Canadian life.
She has also developed a CELPIP preparation course and successfully taught four cohorts for UCC-APC. Her student-focused approach, cultural sensitivity, and deep expertise make her classes both effective and empowering.
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Vera Limonova, ESL Instructor
Vera Limonova is a passionate language instructor dedicated to supporting her students and helping them strengthen their language skills. She earned her master’s degree in Curriculum and Pedagogy from the University of Toronto and holds certifications from TESL Canada and TESL Ontario. Having been working in education since 2009, she has taught a wide range of language levels and English programs, including LINC, ESL, EAP, and ESP.
Throughout her career, Vera has worked with both non-profit organizations that provide language classes for newcomers and several international language schools. While the institutions and settings may have varied, what has never wavered is her genuine commitment to supporting students, helping them achieve their goals, and adapting curriculum and teaching methods to meet their needs.
In 2020, Vera relocated from Ontario to Calgary, where she has been actively exploring the province ever since.
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Abby Popowich, ESL Instructor & IELTS Trainer
Abby Popowich is an adult educator with over two decades of teaching experience. She spent four years teaching overseas in Asia and the rest of her time in Calgary in both the private and public sectors. She holds two degrees. The first in English Literature from the University of Saskatchewan and the second in Business Administration and Human Resources from the University of Lethbridge. Throughout her teaching career, she has worked with students ranging in age from 12 to 80 from a large variety of backgrounds in both the private and public sectors.
Throughout her time in the ESL industry, she has become proficient in preparing students for the IELTS test, Cambridge ESOL exams, and Duolingo exams. Her approach to test preparation has achieved an 85% success rate by focusing on all the skills necessary for success and providing a clear understanding of what each exam entails. At Bow Valley College, she developed an online IELTS course to help healthcare workers fast-track their accreditation in their respective fields.
In addition to her time as an ESL instructor, Abby teaches soft skill classes at CDI College. Here she has stressed the importance of developing soft skills, business writing and resume preparation to over 2,000 students during her five years with the college.
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Audrey Senave, French Language Instructor
Audrey Senave holds a Master’s degree in French as a Second Language from the University of Grenoble in France. She spent over a decade teaching French literature to high school students before immigrating to Québec, where she began working in francisation programs for newcomers.
Audrey has taught French to adult learners at various levels through the Alliance Française of Calgary and currently teaches at La Cité des Rocheuses. She is passionate about helping students discover the richness of the French language and culture, and also works as a professional proofreader.
Originally from France, Audrey moved to Canada in 2016 with her family. After living in Québec, a trip to Alberta inspired her to relocate permanently to Calgary. She volunteers as the Secretary of the Board for the Cinemagine Association and enjoys hiking and traveling to explore new cultures.
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Najia Terry, French Language Instructor
Najia Terry is a French instructor, native of France and an educator and nurse by training. French is her mother tongue. With professional experience in France, Switzerland and Quebec, she brings an international perspective to her teaching as well as a strong understanding of intercultural communication.
Throughout her career in education and healthcare, Najia has developed a pedagogical approach grounded in clarity, structure and individualized support. Her experience has shaped a teaching philosophy centered on attentiveness, precision and human connection. For her, learning a language is both a practical tool and a deeply human experience that empowers learners to express themselves with confidence and authenticity.
Now based in Calgary, Najia teaches beginner French and prepares candidates for the TCF Canada exam. Her approach combines structured guidance with confidence-building strategies, helping learners progress toward their professional, academic or immigration goals in Canada.
A former singer in her youth, Najia has always been passionate about voice and expression. Her sensitivity to rhythm, intonation and musicality naturally informs her teaching, particularly in the areas of pronunciation and oral fluency. She believes that language is not only learned intellectually, but also experienced and expressed through the voice.
Having settled in Alberta with her family, Najia remains actively engaged in her local community and is deeply committed to the transmission of the French language. She strives to create a dynamic and supportive learning environment where students feel encouraged, valued and motivated to grow.
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Elizabeth Amezcua, Spanish Language Instructor
Elizabeth Amezcua is a Spanish language instructor and contemporary abstract artist with over ten years of experience in art and education. Originally from Mexico, she brings a deep appreciation for language, culture, and creative expression into every aspect of her teaching.
With a strong background in visual arts, Elizabeth has developed a distinctive artistic practice that combines diverse materials, textures, and colors to create dynamic and expressive works. This creative approach strongly influences her teaching philosophy: she views language learning as an exploratory and expressive process, where students are encouraged to experiment, gain confidence, and communicate authentically.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Design and Communication from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where she built the artistic and conceptual foundations that shape her creative work and teaching style. She also completed a Diploma in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language through the Canada–Mexico Cultural Exchange Centre, strengthening her skills as an educator. Her approach combines clarity, practicality, and creativity to offer students an engaging and supportive learning experience.
Elizabeth has worked with learners of different ages and backgrounds, creating engaging and supportive learning environments where Spanish is taught in a practical, accessible, and meaningful way. Her classes emphasize real-life communication, cultural understanding, and personal connection, helping students feel comfortable using Spanish from the very beginning.
After moving to Canada with her family, Elizabeth continued developing her career as both an educator and artist while building strong ties within the local community. She enjoys combining art, teaching, and cultural exchange, and is passionate about helping students not only learn Spanish, but also experience the richness of the language and the cultures behind it.
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Yevheniia (Jane) Zachepa, Digital Marketing Coordinator
Yevheniia Zachepa is a digital marketing specialist with over 7 years of experience in SEO, SMM, paid advertising, website management, and marketing analytics. Yevheniia began her career in 2017 as a content marketing assistant. Just three months in, she discovered a lasting passion for digital marketing—a field that lets her combine creativity with analytical thinking. Since then, she has developed and executed comprehensive digital strategies across websites, social media platforms, and ad campaigns, helping businesses strengthen their online presence and attract new clients. She thrives on creating compelling content and solving complex marketing challenges—especially those that seem impossible at first glance.
She currently manages a 1,600-page website during the workweek—strategizing, optimizing, and ensuring performance across all digital touchpoints. On weekends, you'll likely find her scaling Canadian peaks over 2,500 meters high.