English emails and phone calls for hotel staff in Saint-Louis (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

In Saint-Louis, a growing share of bookings, airport transfer requests and complaints arrives in English, especially during the tourist season and the jazz festival. The course Office English: emails, phone and daily exchanges, taught in French, costs 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR) for 18 hours, with eight email templates and ready-to-use call scripts. Since bilingual hotel jobs typically pay 20 to 40% more (2026 order of magnitude), payback is counted in weeks.

Why written and phone English matters in Saint-Louis hospitality

Hotels and guesthouses on the island, in Sor and on the Langue de Barbarie host American, British, Nigerian, Ghanaian and Scandinavian visitors. These guests write before arriving: parking questions, a quiet room, shuttle times, food allergies. A reply in poor English, or one that arrives two days later because nobody dares write it, costs a booking. On the phone, a +44 or +234 number still makes many teams panic.

The goal is not to sound like a native speaker. It is to master about a hundred recurring situations with reliable phrases, then build confidence.

Comparing options in 2026

In Saint-Louis, the supply of professional English is limited: a few institutes, Gaston Berger University students giving private lessons, and the internet. The table compares the real cost of reaching an operational office level.

The course is Beginner level, level 2 of 5 in the Professional English track. It assumes basics (A1 level); if you are starting from zero, level 1 Beginner English comes first. The full five-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA.

What you leave with, and what it is worth

After 18 hours you have a recorded professional introduction, a 200-word office glossary, eight template emails and phone scripts. These tools cover most of a hotel front desk's exchanges.

These figures are 2026 orders of magnitude, with no guarantee of a job or salary.

Mini case study

Ibrahima, 25, a receptionist at a hotel on Saint-Louis island, earns 140,000 FCFA a month. He forwards every English email to his manager, which delays replies. He pays 50,000 FCFA with Wave and completes the course in five weeks, 3 h 30 a week. Afterwards he answers English emails himself and takes calls from abroad. The hotel promotes him to bilingual reservations agent at 175,000 FCFA. Calculation: 35,000 FCFA more per month, so 50,000 ÷ 35,000 = about 1.4 months to recover the course, and 420,000 FCFA gained over a year. This scenario is an estimate that depends on the employer.

FAQ

What level do I need to start?

You need A1: introducing yourself and understanding simple sentences. If you are not there yet, level 1 Beginner English in the track gets you there before these 18 hours.

Is it enough to handle a call with a British guest?

For routine calls (booking, times, transfers), yes: the scripts cover these cases. For longer free conversation, level 3 Conversational English takes over.

How much time per week?

Plan 3 to 4 hours a week for five to six weeks. Lessons work on a phone, handy between shifts.

Is the course specific to hospitality?

It targets office English broadly: emails, phone, welcoming visitors. These situations account for roughly 80% of a front desk's exchanges.

How do I pay?

The 50,000 FCFA fee is paid with Wave or Orange Money. Access opens once payment is confirmed.

Take the next step. Enroll in Office English: emails, phone and daily exchanges: 18 hours, 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR), 2 projects and a verifiable Kolonell certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.