The verdict in three sentences
In Thiès, more and more shop owners serve Ghanaian, Nigerian or Gambian customers and suppliers, and lose sales for lack of a few English phrases. Kolonell Academy's Beginner English course costs 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR or 44 USD) for 13 guided hours, less than one month of private lessons. With 20 minutes of practice a day, an adult who forgot high school English can introduce themselves, give a price and understand a simple request in 6 to 8 weeks.
Options for learning English from Thiès in 2026
Here is what the options available from Thiès really cost. Prices are 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Option | 2026 price | Pace | Explanations in French | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free apps (Duolingo, etc.) | 0 FCFA, data 3,000 to 5,000 FCFA a month | 10 to 15 min a day | Partial | Tourist vocabulary, few work situations |
| YouTube videos | 0 FCFA, data included | Free | Rarely | No logical order, frequent drop-out |
| Kolonell "Beginner English" | 25,000 FCFA, one-off | 13 h, at your own pace | Yes, everything explained in French | Requires self-discipline |
| Private lessons at home | 5,000 to 10,000 FCFA per hour | 2 h a week | Yes | 40,000 to 80,000 FCFA a month |
| Language school (Thiès or Dakar) | 60,000 to 150,000 FCFA per term | 2 to 3 sessions a week | Variable | Fixed hours, shop to close |
For a shop owner, price is not the only constraint: time is. Closing the shop two evenings a week costs sales. A beginner English course explained in French can be followed on a phone, between customers or in the evening, and is paid once with Wave or Orange Money.
The method: 13 hours in four steps
The course is level 1 of the Professional English track. It targets one precise goal: holding a first work conversation.
| Module | Goal | Concrete deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Sounds, alphabet and numbers | Spell your name, say a price, a phone number | Sheet of the 10 tricky sounds and your 20 hardest words |
| Greeting, introducing yourself, being polite | Welcome a customer, present your business | One-minute introduction, recorded and corrected |
| Present simple and everyday vocabulary | Describe what you sell, your hours, your lead times | Personal 300-word glossary sorted by situation |
| Making yourself understood in simple situations | Understand a request, negotiate a simple price | Survival sheet of 40 phrases |
The 20-minutes-a-day rule matters more than total hours. 20 minutes daily means 2 h 20 a week: you complete the 13 hours in about 6 weeks, while keeping time to practice out loud with real customers.
What English brings a Thiès shop owner
No income promise: English will not sell for you. But it removes a barrier. 2026 orders of magnitude for a retail business in Thiès:
| Situation | Without English | With solid beginner English |
|---|---|---|
| English-speaking walk-in customer | Gestures, calculator, sale lost 1 time in 3 | Greeting, price, quantity, payment understood |
| Supplier in Ghana or Nigeria | Middleman paid 5 to 10% of the order | Direct WhatsApp exchange, simple messages |
| WhatsApp order in English | Late reply or random translation | Template reply in under 5 minutes |
| Application in hospitality or tourism | Profile rejected | Beginner level stated, interview possible |
| Front-desk job in Dakar | 150,000 to 200,000 FCFA | 180,000 to 250,000 FCFA with basic English |
Afterwards, level 2 of the track covers emails and phone calls. The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA when buying levels separately.
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.
Moussa, 38, spare-parts seller at the central market in Thiès, gets about 3 English-speaking customers a week, Ghanaian and Nigerian truck drivers passing through on the national road. He estimates he loses one in three because he cannot make himself understood, with an average basket of 30,000 FCFA and a 20% margin.
- Sale lost each week: 1 customer, or 6,000 FCFA of margin.
- Over a month: about 24,000 FCFA of lost margin.
- Course cost: 25,000 FCFA, paid with Orange Money.
If the course helps him keep those sales, it pays for itself in just over a month. He spends 20 minutes every morning before opening and finishes in 6 weeks.
FAQ
I haven't studied English since middle school, is it too hard?
No, the course starts with the alphabet and numbers, and everything is explained in French. It is built for adults who have forgotten everything.
Can I follow the course on a phone only?
Yes. Lessons and audio exercises work on a smartphone. Plan about 1 to 2 GB of data for the full 13 hours.
How long before I can talk to a customer?
At 20 minutes a day, most learners can give a one-minute introduction after 2 to 3 weeks. The full course takes about 6 weeks.
Is there a certificate?
Yes, a Kolonell Academy certificate of completion, useful on a CV for front-desk or tourism jobs.
How do I pay from Thiès?
With Wave or Orange Money, on the course page. 25,000 FCFA once, no subscription.
Take the next step. Enroll in Beginner English: introduce yourself, understand and be understood: 13 guided hours, taught in French, 25,000 FCFA (about 38 EUR), 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.
