FAQ - ELAM

Frequently Asked Question

Everything you need to know about language courses

01. What services do you offer?

We offer virtual language training and assessments for hiring purposes.

02. Who can take your classes?

ELAM classes are designed for adult learners and working professionals who want to strengthen their language skills for real‑world and professional contexts. Our programs are open to learners at all levels, from complete beginners to advanced speakers, and are tailored to individual goals, roles, and industries.

03 How long has ELAM been in business?

ELAM was founded in 1993 and has been delivering corporate language training for over 30 years. Originally based in Montreal, ELAM was an early adopter of virtual delivery and now operates as a 100% paperless, fully virtual school serving clients across Canada and internationally.

04. Is ELAM certified or accredited?

Yes. ELAM holds several formal certifications, including Women Business Enterprise (WBE), Great Place to Work, Green Standard Schools (GSS) and CPMT certified.

05. What languages do you teach?

English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese

06. What CEFR levels do you cover?

ELAM offers training across the full CEFR spectrum, from A0 (beginner) to C1 (advanced). Most corporate learners progress within the B1–B2 range, which corresponds to the operational fluency required for professional communication in most workplaces.

07. Do you offer one-on-one, small group, or both formats?

Both. Many of our programs are delivered one-on-one for maximum personalization. We also offer small group formats (typically 2–6 learners) for organizations balancing cost efficiency with peer interaction. The right format depends on objectives, schedules, and budget.

08. What if I am the only person at work that needs a language course?

If you are wanting a on-on-one course that can easily be arranged. For semi-private or group courses we can try and match you with students from our other clients if the language level and needs are similar.

09. How are classes delivered?

All ELAM training is delivered 100% virtually via Microsoft Teams Premium. Sessions are scheduled around the learner's availability, supported by digital materials, optional recordings, and learner dashboards.

10. How do you keep virtual classes engaging?

Our trainers are specifically certified for virtual delivery — not in-person teachers adapted to a webcam. We use a conversation-driven format, interactive digital tools, real-world professional scenarios, and content tailored to each learner's role. Engagement comes from relevance, not gimmicks.

11. How does language training outsourcing work with ELAM?

ELAM acts as an extension of your HR or L&D team. We handle as much or as little of the training lifecycle as you need — from needs assessment and learner placement to scheduling, attendance tracking, progress reporting, and integration with your internal systems. Our Total Training Package offers end-to-end outsourcing for organizations that want a fully managed program.

12. What is the minimum commitment for the Total Training Package?

The Total Training Package requires a minimum commitment of 30 learners per session (Winter, Spring, or Fall). For smaller groups or individual learners, we offer flexible program options tailored to your needs.

Everything you need to know about language assessments

01. What are ECBE and ECFA?

ECBE (ELAM Certificate of Bilingual English) and ECFA (ELAM Certificate of French Aptitude) are ELAM's proprietary CEFR-aligned assessments. They're used for placement, end-of-program proficiency measurement, and pre-employment screening. Results provide a clear, defensible measure of language proficiency aligned with international standards.

02. Do you offer pre-employment language testing?

Yes. ECBE and ECFA are widely used by HR teams to assess candidate proficiency during recruitment, ensuring objective and consistent hiring decisions. We also administer testing for internal promotion and certification processes.

03. Can you certify language proficiency for compliance purposes?

Yes. Our ECBE and ECFA assessments are CEFR-aligned and recognized as a credible proficiency measure. We provide official assessment reports usable for internal compliance, hiring documentation, and HR records.

04. How quickly can we get results?

The typical turnaround time is 24 to 48 hours. However, we also offer an Express service (for an additional fee) with results delivered within 3 hours.

05. Who uses this service?

HR, Talent Acquisition, and Learning & Development teams who require standardized, defensible language data for decision‑making and reporting purposes.