The verdict in three sentences
In Dakar in 2026, speaking English is no longer enough: what gets rewarded is being able to sell, negotiate and write in English, facing a distributor in Accra, a client in Lagos or an international donor. The pay gap observed for a bilingual salesperson or project manager is generally 100,000 to 300,000 FCFA a month (about 150 to 460 EUR) compared with an equivalent French-only profile, depending on sector and network, and no course can guarantee it. The level 4 Business English course (100,000 FCFA, 22 h) is designed to produce concrete proof of that skill: formal emails, a presentation, a negotiation plan, a tender response.
Bilingual salaries in Dakar: 2026 ballpark figures
Pay scales vary a lot by employer. The figures below are 2026 ballpark estimates, depending on the profile, and no income is guaranteed. The 'bilingual gap' row uses the range quoted on the course page.
| Role in Dakar | French-only profile (gross monthly ballpark) | What business English changes |
|---|---|---|
| Field or inside sales | 200,000 to 400,000 FCFA | Access to export accounts, English-speaking subregion |
| B2B account manager | 300,000 to 550,000 FCFA | Proposals and negotiations in English |
| Project manager (NGO, construction, telecoms) | 400,000 to 800,000 FCFA | Donor reports, meetings in English |
| Export or key account manager | 500,000 to 1,000,000 FCFA | Negotiation with Ghanaian and Nigerian distributors |
| Observed bilingual gap (course page) | + 100,000 to 300,000 FCFA a month depending on sector and network | |
| Consultant or SME bidding on tenders | Variable | Access to World Bank, AfDB, UN agency contracts |
Two remarks. First, the gap is negotiated: it shows up at hiring, at promotion or when you are given an English-speaking account, rarely automatically. Second, it depends on what you can show. Dakar recruiters often test English in the interview or ask for an email in English. Having an email kit and a sales presentation ready changes the conversation.
What level 4 makes you produce
The Business English course: presentations, negotiation and documents is level 4 Intermediate, 100,000 FCFA, 22 h, taught with explanations in French, in 8 modules of written lessons with exercises and answer keys, a PDF handout and a quiz per module. Each module has a project to submit, and together they form your business file in English.
| Module | Key content | Project to submit |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Professional written English (free) | Tenses, linking words, Plain English | A text rewritten in Plain English |
| 2. Formal and semi-formal emails | Follow-ups, payment reminders, complaints, apologies | Kit of 10 formal emails |
| 3. Reports, memos, minutes | Minutes, executive summary, figures and trends | Minutes, memo, short report |
| 4. Business, finance, marketing vocabulary | Revenue, margin, quote, invoice, saying FCFA amounts | Glossary and figures-based presentation of your company |
| 5. Presentations and pitches | Structure, signposting, commenting on a chart | 10-slide presentation and three-minute pitch |
| 6. Negotiating and arguing | Offer, counter-offer, concession, written confirmation | Negotiation plan and simulated negotiation |
| 7. Business and technical documents | Tenders, contract clauses, technical sheets | Tender analysis and your response |
| 8. Business scenarios | Distributor in Accra, donor, diaspora client in London | Final business file in English |
Prerequisites: B1 level, meaning you can hold a conversation and a simple meeting. If you still freeze when speaking, start with level 3 Conversational English in the Professional English track. The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000. You also need a word processor and presentation software (Google Docs and Google Slides are enough).
What business English costs in Dakar
| Option | Price (2026 ballpark) | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Business English course at a Dakar institute | 200,000 to 400,000 FCFA | Classroom, fixed hours |
| Free apps and videos | 0 FCFA | General vocabulary, little professional writing |
| Kolonell Academy level 4 | 100,000 FCFA (about 152 EUR) | Written, self-paced, 8 projects |
| Full Professional English track | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | 5 levels |
| Official test (TOEIC, IELTS) | Accredited centre fee | Measures your level, does not teach it |
The Kolonell Academy certificate attests the course you completed: numbered, verifiable online via QR code, to add to LinkedIn, obtained by passing the module quizzes with at least 70%. It does not replace an official test such as TOEIC or IELTS if an employer requires one.
Mini case study
Consider a hypothetical learner: Ousmane, 31, a salesperson at an agricultural equipment distributor in Dakar, B1 speaking level. His company wants to open resellers in The Gambia and Ghana. He takes level 4 at 2 to 3 hours a week, over about ten weeks.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Illustrative calculation: course fee 100,000 FCFA. If, through a promotion or a new job, he obtained the low end of the quoted range (100,000 FCFA more a month), the course would pay for itself in one month, or 1,200,000 FCFA over a year. This is only a hypothetical scenario: any raise depends on the employer, the sector and the network.
FAQ
Is English enough to get a raise?
No, it mainly opens roles and accounts you could not access before. The 100,000 to 300,000 FCFA monthly gap is a 2026 ballpark that varies by sector, and the course guarantees neither a job nor an income.
How much time should I plan?
About 22 hours: ten hours of lessons, the exercises and eight projects. Allow eight to ten weeks at 2 or 3 hours a week, on a phone or computer, even on 3G.
Are there spoken classes or a live teacher?
No: written lessons, PDF handouts, exercises with answer keys, quizzes and projects. For speaking, you record your own pitch and simulated negotiation. Questions go to the course forum or WhatsApp support.
Can I work on my real company?
It is recommended: your eight projects become a reusable file. Otherwise, use a fictional company and label it as such.
How do I pay?
By Wave or Orange Money at +221 77 596 93 33, 100,000 FCFA. Access is activated within 24 working hours and is valid for life. Module 1 is free: try it first, because access is not refundable once activated.
---
Take the next step. Enroll in Business English: presentations, negotiation and documents: 22 h, level 4 Intermediate, 100,000 FCFA (about 152 EUR), certificate verifiable by QR code. 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.
