The verdict in three sentences
In Mbour and Saly, basic English is used every day: Gambian and Ghanaian customers, English-speaking British or Nordic tourists, bookings over WhatsApp. For a job that asks for 'some English', the observed gap is around 20,000 to 50,000 FCFA per month compared with the same job without English, with no guarantee of employment. The Kolonell Academy Beginner English course (level 1 Beginner, 25,000 FCFA, 8 h) takes you from the alphabet to a one-minute self-introduction and three ready-to-use work dialogues.
Petite-Côte jobs where English makes a difference
Tourism in Saly, Somone and Mbour employs many people in direct contact with visitors. Few of these jobs require fluent English. In most cases you need to greet, understand a simple request, give a price, a time or directions, and politely ask someone to repeat.
| Job | Typical English situation | What level 1 gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel or residence receptionist | Welcome guests, spell a name, give breakfast times | Alphabet, numbers, 'welcoming a visitor' dialogue |
| Waiter or waitress | Take an order, state a price | Numbers and prices, 'taking an order' dialogue |
| Tour guide or excursion seller | Present a trip, set a departure time | Present simple, telling the time, 'setting an appointment' dialogue |
| Craft shop salesperson | Give a price, answer 'how much?' | Question words, numbers, polite phrases |
| Ride-hailing or taxi driver | Confirm an address, give directions | 'Giving directions' dialogue, rescue phrases |
| Market trader | Serve a passing Gambian or Ghanaian customer | Greeting, introducing yourself, asking to repeat |
The course page cites a gap of 20,000 to 50,000 FCFA per month for reception, sales, hotel front desk or driver jobs that ask for some English. This is a 2026 order of magnitude, observed mainly in Dakar: it varies by sector and city, and no income is guaranteed. For a trader the benefit is different: sales you used to lose because you could not reply.
What you learn in 8 hours
The course starts from zero and explains everything in French (it is taught in French). It consists of written lessons, a PDF handout and a quiz per module, exercises with answer keys and a final project. For pronunciation, each lesson points you to free tools where you hear native speakers (Cambridge Dictionary, Forvo, YouGlish) and has you record your own voice on your phone to compare.
| Module | Content | Use in Saly or Mbour |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Sounds, alphabet and numbers (free preview) | Spelling, dictating a number, saying a price, th and h sounds | Note a booking, quote 15,000 FCFA without hesitating |
| 2. Greeting, introducing yourself and being polite | Verb to be, describing your job, please, sorry | Open the conversation with a customer |
| 3. Present simple and everyday vocabulary | Habits, schedules, telling the time, 150 useful words | Give restaurant or excursion hours |
| 4. Making yourself understood in simple situations | What, where, how much, rescue phrases, dialogues | Welcome, take an order, give directions |
| Final project | One-minute introduction and a 40-phrase survival sheet | Your script ready for day one |
You also leave with a pronunciation sheet, a glossary of your first 300 useful words and a 15-minute daily routine. Everything reads on a phone, even on 3G, with no app to install. Details are on the Beginner English course page.
What basic English costs on the Petite-Côte
| Option | Indicative 2026 cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Group class at a center in Mbour | 15,000 to 35,000 FCFA per month (order of magnitude) | Fixed hours, often hard to fit around hotel shifts |
| Private tutor | 5,000 to 10,000 FCFA per hour (order of magnitude) | Speaking practice, expensive over time |
| Free apps and videos | 0 FCFA (excluding data) | General vocabulary, little work focus |
| Kolonell Academy, level 1 | 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR), one-off | 8 h, work dialogues, lifetime access, certificate |
| Kolonell Academy, level 2 Office English | 50,000 FCFA | Emails, phone calls, everyday exchanges |
| Full Professional English track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | From beginner to leadership and technical English |
After level 1, the logical next step is level 2, Office English, at 50,000 FCFA: simple emails, phone calls, exchanges with colleagues and customers. All five levels are presented on the Professional English track page.
Mini case study
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Consider a hypothetical learner: Fatou, 22, a waitress at a restaurant in Saly who understands a few words but freezes when she has to answer. She follows level 1 for 20 minutes a day over four weeks. Illustrative math: the course costs 25,000 FCFA. If she later landed a reception job paying 30,000 FCFA more per month, within the cited range, the cost would be covered in under a month. If that job does not come up, she still has her three dialogues and survival sheet to serve English-speaking customers. None of this is guaranteed: it depends on hiring and on her practice.
FAQ
I have not studied English since high school. Is it too late?
No. The course starts from the alphabet and explains everything in French. Plan 15 to 20 minutes a day for four weeks to cover the 8 hours, practicing out loud.
Is there audio in the course?
Yes, for the listening exercises: audio recordings in synthetic English voices, playable at slower speed, with the transcript. The rest of the course is written, and for pronunciation it also sends you to free tools such as Cambridge Dictionary, Forvo and YouGlish, where you record your voice on your phone to compare. You therefore need a smartphone with a microphone.
How do I pay and when does access open?
With Wave or Orange Money at +221 77 596 93 33, 25,000 FCFA. Access is activated within 24 working hours of payment, for life, updates included. It is not refundable once activated: read the free module 1 first.
Is the certificate enough for an employer?
You get a numbered Kolonell Academy certificate, verifiable online via QR code, that you can add to LinkedIn, by passing the module quizzes with at least 70 %; your final project must also be approved by a reviewer. It shows you completed a course and does not replace an official test such as the TOEIC. In an interview, your one-minute introduction in English often matters more.
Where can I ask questions during the course?
On the course forum and through WhatsApp support. There are no live classes and no assigned teacher: you progress at your own pace with the corrected exercises.
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Take the next step. Enroll in Beginner English: introduce yourself, understand and be understood: 8 h, level 1 Beginner, 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR / 41 USD), numbered Kolonell Academy certificate verifiable online. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
