The verdict in three sentences
In Dakar, office English (emails, phone calls, welcoming a visitor) is enough to unlock most of the opportunities lost at the port, in freight forwarding, NGOs and trade with Gambia, Ghana or Nigeria. A targeted 12-hour course at 50,000 FCFA (76 EUR) gives you email templates and call phrases you can use the following week, whereas a general course at a language school costs 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA per term. The premium on a bilingual job, 10 to 20% as a 2026 order of magnitude, pays back the course in less than one month of salary.
What professional English costs in Dakar in 2026
The Dakar market offers three families of options. Language schools and private centres sell general courses by the term, often in the evening in Plateau, Mermoz or Almadies. Free platforms (apps, YouTube videos) help you revise but never correct your emails. Kolonell Academy's Office English: emails, phone calls and daily exchanges course targets one thing only: work situations.
| Option | 2026 price (order of magnitude) | Duration | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kolonell Academy, level 2 "Office English" | 50,000 FCFA (76 EUR / about 83 USD) | 12 h, self-paced | Email templates, call scripts, graded quizzes, numbered certificate |
| Language school in Dakar, group class | 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA per term | 36 to 48 h | General English, groups of 10 to 15, fixed hours |
| Private tutor at home | 7,500 to 15,000 FCFA per hour | Variable | Tailored, costly over 3 months (90,000 to 180,000 FCFA for 12 h) |
| TOEIC preparation at a centre | 200,000 to 350,000 FCFA | 40 to 60 h | Certified score, little focus on real emails |
| Apps and YouTube | 0 to 6,000 FCFA per month | Unlimited | Vocabulary, no correction of your texts |
The course is taught in French, with each English phrase explained one by one. It requires an A1 level: you can introduce yourself and understand simple questions. If not, level 1 of the Professional English track starts there.
The situations covered and what they are worth
The programme follows the tasks that come back every week in a Dakar office working with foreign partners: chasing a supplier, confirming a delivery, taking a message when the manager is out, setting up a meeting with an English-speaking client.
| Work situation | Before the course | After 12 h | Estimated gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Request or follow-up email | 20 to 30 min with a translator | 5 to 8 min with a template | 2 to 3 h per week |
| Incoming call from +234, +233 or +44 | Passed on to a colleague | Message taken and passed on correctly | Fewer lost opportunities |
| Meeting confirmation | Exchange in French, misunderstandings | Date, time and place confirmed in writing | Zero missed meetings |
| Welcoming a visitor | Awkward silence | Introduction, directions, coffee offered | Professional image |
| Replying to a complaint | Late reply | Apology, solution, deadline in 4 sentences | Client retained |
On pay, 2026 benchmarks in Dakar put an administrative assistant between 200,000 and 350,000 FCFA per month (about 305 to 535 EUR), and a bilingual assistant between 250,000 and 450,000 FCFA. In port logistics and freight forwarding, a customs declarant or sales agent who can handle shipping line emails in English often gets ahead of a French-only candidate. These amounts are estimates: they vary by employer and seniority.
Mini case study
Awa, 27, an assistant at a freight forwarding company in Dakar, earns 280,000 FCFA per month. She forwards every English email to her manager, who ends up giving the Ghanaian clients to a bilingual colleague. Awa takes the course over 4 weeks, 3 hours a week, for 50,000 FCFA paid via Wave. Two months later she runs the "export" inbox on her own and gets a 12% raise, i.e. 33,600 FCFA more per month. The course pays for itself in about 6 weeks, and she also saves 2 hours a week on writing. This scenario is illustrative: any raise depends on the employer.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
FAQ
Do I need to speak English already to take this course?
An A1 level is enough: you can say hello, introduce yourself and understand a simple question. Without these basics, start with level 1 of the track (8 h), then move on to this 12-hour level 2.
How long until I can write an email without a translator?
Most learners send their first independent email around week three, at 3 to 4 hours a week. The templates provided cover about fifteen common situations.
Is it better than a language school?
It is different: a school at 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA per term works on general spoken English in groups. Here, 50,000 FCFA targets only office emails, calls and exchanges, at your own pace.
Is the certificate recognised by employers?
You receive a numbered Kolonell Academy certificate with a public verification page that you can add to LinkedIn. It does not replace a TOEIC, but it proves a concrete skill over 12 hours of assessed work.
How much does the full English track cost?
The 5 levels of the Professional English track cost 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA when bought separately. You can also start with this single level at 50,000 FCFA.
Take the next step. Enroll in Office English: emails, phone calls and daily exchanges: 12 hours online, taught in French, 50,000 FCFA (76 EUR), verifiable 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.
