The verdict in three sentences
In Saint-Louis, business English opens three concrete career paths: NGOs and development agencies, tourism (hotels on the Langue de Barbarie, Djoudj park) and subcontractors of the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim gas project. Bilingual roles there offer, as an order of magnitude, a 15 to 30% premium over the salary of an equivalent monolingual role. The Kolonell course Office English: emails, phone and everyday exchanges costs 50,000 FCFA for 18 hours, while an institute charges 30,000 to 60,000 FCFA per month for 6 to 12 months.
How much does a business English course cost in 2026
In Saint-Louis, the offer is split between language institutes, private lessons and apps. Here is a 2026 order of magnitude of the total cost to reach basic professional use.
| Option | 2026 price (FCFA) | Typical duration | Estimated total cost | Office-focused |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language institute in Saint-Louis or Dakar | 30,000 to 60,000 per month | 6 to 12 months | 180,000 to 720,000 (274 to 1,098 EUR) | Partly |
| Private lessons | 5,000 to 10,000 per hour | 30 h | 150,000 to 300,000 | Depends on teacher |
| Free or premium mobile app | 0 to 6,000 per month | Unlimited | 0 to 72,000 per year | No |
| TOEIC preparation at a centre | 150,000 to 250,000 + exam | 2 to 3 months | 220,000 to 330,000 | Yes, test-oriented |
| Kolonell Office English (level 2 Practical) | 50,000 (76 EUR / about 88 USD) | 18 h online | 50,000 | Yes, emails, phone, video calls |
| Full Business English track (5 levels) | 350,000 instead of 450,000 (534 EUR) | Progressive, A1 to C1 | 350,000 | Yes |
The Office English course: emails, phone and everyday exchanges, taught in French, is for people who have the basics (A1 level) and already receive English-language emails, calls or visitors. It has 5 modules with ready-to-use templates: introducing yourself and your company, office vocabulary, simple and effective emails, phone and video calls, then requests and exchanges with colleagues and clients. The Business English track starts at level 1 Essential (25,000 FCFA, English basics) and the full track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000.
Bilingual career paths around Saint-Louis
The salaries below are 2026 orders of magnitude for the Saint-Louis region and Dakar. The premium depends on the role and the employer, it is not automatic.
| Sector | Typical role | Monolingual salary (FCFA/month) | Bilingual salary (FCFA/month) | Use of English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NGOs and cooperation | Administrative and finance assistant | 200,000 to 300,000 | 250,000 to 400,000 | Reports, donor emails |
| Tourism and hospitality | Receptionist, guide | 100,000 to 180,000 | 130,000 to 230,000 + tips | Front desk, phone, bookings |
| Oil and gas (subcontracting) | Logistics assistant, storekeeper | 250,000 to 400,000 | 300,000 to 500,000 | Procedures, safety, emails |
| Transport and port | Freight forwarding agent | 180,000 to 280,000 | 220,000 to 350,000 | Documents, shipowner exchanges |
| Remote customer service | English-speaking support agent | Not applicable | 200,000 to 350,000 | Phone, chat |
| Private education | Teaching assistant | 120,000 to 200,000 | 150,000 to 250,000 | Exchanges, documents |
For most of these roles, recruiters mainly test your ability to write a clear email and handle a call, exactly what the course trains.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Mini case study
Ndèye, 26, a receptionist at a hotel in Saint-Louis, earns 150,000 FCFA a month. She regularly loses bookings from English-speaking groups because she does not dare answer the phone. She takes the course at 50,000 FCFA over five weeks, 4 hours a week, then continues with level 3. Three months later, she gets a bilingual receptionist job at a Langue de Barbarie property at 190,000 FCFA. The 40,000 FCFA monthly gain pays back the course in about five weeks.
FAQ
What level do I need to start? An A1 level is enough: being able to introduce yourself and understand simple sentences. If you start from zero, begin with level 1 Essential at 25,000 FCFA.
Are 18 hours enough to work in English? They are enough to write everyday emails and handle a simple call thanks to the templates provided. To negotiate or present in meetings, levels 3 and 4 of the track take over.
Can I follow the course on a phone? Yes, lessons and audio exercises work on a smartphone. Allow about 2 GB of data per week if you listen to all the dialogues.
Is the salary premium guaranteed? No, the 15 to 30% premium is a 2026 order of magnitude observed on bilingual roles. It depends on the employer, but English clearly widens the number of job offers open to you in Saint-Louis.
How do I pay? By Wave or Orange Money: 50,000 FCFA for this level, or 350,000 FCFA for the full 5-level track instead of 450,000.
Take the next step. Enroll in Office English: emails, phone and everyday exchanges: 18 h online (taught in French), 50,000 FCFA (76 EUR / about 88 USD), Kolonell Academy certificate. 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.
