The verdict in three sentences
In Thiès, Diamniadio and around AIDB airport, more and more employees exchange emails and phone calls with English-speaking suppliers, clients and partners (Ghana, Nigeria, India, China, Turkey). The online Office English course from Kolonell Academy costs 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR) for 18 hours, the price of 4 to 6 hours of private tutoring. If your job puts you in contact with English even once a week, it is the most economical way to stop depending on a colleague or a machine translator.
Situations where English blocks you at work
In factories, logistics companies and construction sites in the Diamniadio zone, English rarely comes up in board meetings but very often in daily work: a supplier email, a call from a freight forwarder, a technical sheet, a video call with a partner.
| Work situation | Common difficulty | What you learn |
|---|---|---|
| Replying to a supplier email | Word-for-word translation, awkward tone | Opening, follow-up and closing phrases |
| Taking an incoming call | Panic, asking to repeat without method | Phrases to put on hold, spell, confirm |
| Leaving a voicemail | Confusing or overly long message | 4-step structure: who, why, what, call back |
| Confirming an order or delivery | Errors on dates and quantities | Dates, numbers, units and times in English |
| Joining an online meeting | Silence for fear of mistakes | Phrases to speak up and rephrase |
| Reading a technical sheet or invoice | Unknown vocabulary | Office, purchasing and logistics vocabulary |
The course is taught in French with English practice. It is level 2 of 5 (Beginner) of the Professional English track. It assumes school-level basics: if you cannot introduce yourself in English, start with level 1.
How much it costs to learn professional English in Thiès in 2026
| Option | Indicative 2026 price | Volume | Advantage | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free apps | 0 to 5,000 FCFA/month | Unlimited | Everyday vocabulary | Few office situations |
| Private tutoring in Thiès | 8,000 to 15,000 FCFA/hour | 18 h = 144,000 to 270,000 FCFA | Personal follow-up | High cost |
| Language centre (Dakar or Thiès) | 75,000 to 150,000 FCFA per session | 20 to 40 h | Group setting | Fixed hours, commuting |
| International online general English | 20 to 40 USD/month | Variable | Native speakers | Context far from Senegal |
| Kolonell Academy Office English course | 50,000 FCFA | 18 h | Real situations, certificate | Requires speaking practice alone |
The full Professional English track (5 levels, up to leadership English) costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA. Payment is made with Wave or Orange Money.
What English brings to your career
| Indicator | 2026 order of magnitude | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Premium on a bilingual position | 10 to 20% of salary | Depends on company and sector |
| Logistics assistant salary in Diamniadio | 180,000 to 300,000 FCFA/month | Higher if bilingual |
| Monthly gain with 15% on 220,000 FCFA | 33,000 FCFA/month | 396,000 FCFA per year |
| Time lost on an email without English | 20 to 40 minutes | Translation, checking, asking a colleague |
| Target time after the course | 5 to 10 minutes | With ready-to-use phrases |
| Sectors in demand | Logistics, construction, hospitality, NGOs | Thiès, Diamniadio, Saly, Mbour |
These figures are estimates. No premium or promotion is guaranteed.
Mini case study
Mamadou, 29, a purchasing assistant at a building materials company in Thiès, earns 220,000 FCFA per month. He handles 10 English emails per week, at 30 minutes each, or 5 hours a week.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
After the course (50,000 FCFA, taken over 6 weeks at 3 hours per week), he gets down to 10 minutes per email: he recovers about 3 h 20 per week, more than 13 hours a month. If he then obtains a 15% raise for a bilingual position, the gain reaches 33,000 FCFA per month: the course pays back in 7 weeks. This scenario is an illustration, not a promise.
FAQ
What level do I need to start?
School level is enough: understanding simple sentences and knowing basic grammar. If you are starting from zero, level 1 of the track (beginner English, 25,000 FCFA) is the right starting point.
How long does it take to finish?
The course lasts 18 hours. At 3 hours per week, allow 6 weeks, which leaves time to reuse each phrase at work.
Can I really improve my speaking online?
Yes, provided you repeat dialogues aloud and record yourself. Exercises are designed for 15 to 20 minutes of practice per session, doable on a phone.
Does the certificate matter to an employer?
The Kolonell certificate is numbered and verifiable online. It attests the skills you worked on, but an employer will mostly judge your ease during a 5-minute test call.
How do I pay?
The 50,000 FCFA fee is paid with Wave or Orange Money. Access to lessons opens upon confirmation.
Take the next step. Enroll in Office English: emails, phone and daily exchanges: 18 hours, 50,000 FCFA, certificate verifiable online, taught 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.
