The verdict in three sentences
Between Blaise Diagne airport, Saly, Popenguine and Lac Rose, drivers, guides and hotel staff in the Thiès region meet English-speaking clients every week, and those who can welcome them in English often earn 20 to 40% more in fares and tips. You do not need to speak like a teacher: about 300 words and a few well-pronounced sentences are enough to greet, quote a price, explain a route and reassure. A 13-hour course at 25,000 FCFA, explained in French, gets you there without leaving your job.
Where English really pays
British, American, Nigerian or Ghanaian tourists, expats and business travellers landing at AIBD do not all speak French. The driver who understands their destination and states the fare clearly becomes their contact for the whole stay.
| Situation | Typical English phrase | Possible gain (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Pick-up at AIBD airport | « Welcome to Senegal, I am your driver. » | Ride booked in advance, less haggling |
| Stating price and duration | « It is 25 000 francs, about one hour. » | Fewer disputes, reassured client |
| Trip to Lac Rose or Popenguine | « We can stop here for photos. » | Full-day trip instead of a simple transfer |
| Hotel front desk in Saly | « Your room is ready, breakfast is at seven. » | Better guest reviews |
| Ride back to the airport | « Can I give you my WhatsApp number? » | Repeat clients and referrals |
| Problem on the road | « Sorry, there is traffic, we will be late. » | Trust kept, tip kept |
Take an AIBD to Saly transfer at 25,000 FCFA: with a happy client who also books the Lac Rose trip and tips, the day can bring in 35,000 to 45,000 FCFA instead of 25,000.
What learning English costs in Thiès
| Option | Indicative cost (2026 estimate) | Duration | Advantage | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private lessons in Thiès or Mbour | 5,000 to 10,000 FCFA an hour | 13 h, i.e. 65,000 to 130,000 FCFA | Face-to-face speaking | Expensive, awkward hours for a driver |
| Language centre group sessions | 40,000 to 100,000 FCFA a month | 1 to 3 months | Regular routine | Fixed hours |
| Free apps | 0 FCFA (data aside) | Open-ended | Handy on a phone | Nothing on transport and tourism vocabulary |
| Learning on the job with clients | 0 FCFA | Several years | Free | Mistakes that cost clients |
| Kolonell beginner English course | 25,000 FCFA (38 EUR) | 13 h | Explained in French, audio, quizzes | Requires regular practice |
The course « Anglais débutant : se présenter, comprendre et se faire comprendre » is level 1 of the professional English track. Its four modules cover sounds, the alphabet and numbers (essential for quoting a price), greeting, introducing yourself and being polite, the present simple and everyday vocabulary, then making yourself understood in simple situations. It works on a phone, for instance during waiting time at the airport. Each lesson ends with a short audio role-play and a quiz, so you practise saying the numbers and phrases aloud rather than only reading them. Drivers in the region often fit a 20-minute lesson between two rides, which adds up to the full 13 hours in about a month without losing a single fare.
To progress later to fluent conversation, the full Professional English track has 5 levels for 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA, payable with Wave or Orange Money.
Mini case study
Modou, 34, a ride-hailing driver based in Thiès, does about 8 airport transfers a month to or from AIBD, 3 of them with English-speaking clients he struggles to understand. He takes the 13-hour course at 25,000 FCFA, paid with Wave, over 4 weeks.
- Before: 3 English-speaking rides at 25,000 FCFA, i.e. 75,000 FCFA a month.
- After: he turns 1 client in 3 into an extra 20,000 FCFA excursion, and his tips rise from 2,000 to 5,000 FCFA per English-speaking ride.
- Monthly gain: 20,000 FCFA from the excursion + 9,000 FCFA in extra tips = 29,000 FCFA a month.
- The course pays back in under a month, about 4 weeks.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
This calculation is an estimate: it depends on the tourist season and the number of foreign clients.
FAQ
I never studied English at school, can I take the course?
Yes, it starts from zero and every explanation is in French. The 13 hours begin with sounds, the alphabet and numbers.
How long before I can talk to a client?
With 30 minutes a day, most learners hold a first simple exchange after 3 to 4 weeks. Greeting and price phrases come in the first modules.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes, lessons, audio and quizzes all run on a smartphone. A data bundle of about 3,000 to 5,000 FCFA a month is enough for regular use.
How do I pay from Thiès?
The course costs 25,000 FCFA, payable with Wave or Orange Money. Access is immediate.
What comes after the beginner level?
The Professional English track offers 5 levels for 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA. The next level works on conversation for longer exchanges with clients.
Take the next step. Enroll in Beginner English: introduce yourself, understand and be understood: 13 hours, 25,000 FCFA, numbered certificate once your final project is validated, explained in French. 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.
