About CELS
Our Vision
CELS is a language training agency committed to meeting the unique learning needs of adult newcomers and internationally trained professionals residing in Canada.
We empower newcomer professionals by providing language instruction that goes beyond basic communication skills, fostering both linguistic proficiency and intercultural competence.
We offer affordable, high-quality programs designed to immerse students in authentic, real-world materials that reflect Canada’s diverse society.
Meet Dr. Alisa Zavialova, Founder & CEO of CELS
Alisa Zavialova, PhD is an accomplished professional with over a decade of experience in second language education and newcomer integration sectors.
Alisa completed her graduate studies in Applied Linguistics and TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language) at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario. 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. Motivated by her passion for helping immigrants succeed, Alisa founded Calgary Essential Language Solutions (CELS). Alisa’s vision is to create high-quality language training programs for newcomer professionals and bridge the critical gap in second language education in Canada.Alisa moved to Calgary in 2022 and is happy to call this beautiful city her new home, where she lives with her husband and two dogs.