The verdict in three sentences
In Saint-Louis, the island's hotels, the Langue de Barbarie lodges, fishing companies and NGOs receive emails and calls in English every week. Kolonell's Office English: emails, phone calls and daily exchanges course (level 2 Practical, 50,000 FCFA, 18 hours online, explained in French) teaches you to answer them without a translator, with ready-to-use templates. A profile who can do this is generally hired at 30,000 to 80,000 FCFA more per month, a 15 to 30% higher salary.
Price of a professional English course in Saint-Louis
The Saint-Louis offer mostly relies on language institutes and private lessons. Here are the 2026 estimates.
| Option | 2026 price (estimate) | Pace | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language institute in Saint-Louis | 90,000 to 180,000 FCFA per term | 2 to 3 sessions a week | General English, hours hard to fit around hotel shifts |
| Private lessons | 5,000 to 10,000 FCFA an hour | Depending on availability | 90,000 FCFA or more for 18 h |
| Free apps (Duolingo, YouTube) | 0 FCFA | Free | Travel vocabulary, nothing on work emails |
| Kolonell Office English | 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR) | 18 h, at your own pace | Emails, phone, reusable templates |
| Full Professional English track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | About 100 h | Up to meetings and negotiations |
The course requires some basics (A1 to A2 level, you understand simple sentences). It is explained in French, with all examples in English. Lesson details are on the Office English emails and phone course page.
What you will be able to do, situation by situation
The 5 modules follow the real situations of a front desk, assistant or sales job.
| Module | Situation in Saint-Louis | What you will be able to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Introduce yourself and your company | Welcoming an English-speaking guest at the hotel | Present your role and services in 1 minute |
| 2. Office vocabulary | Daily tasks, schedules, documents | Name and explain your work |
| 3. Simple, effective emails | Booking confirmation, export quote | Reply in 10 minutes instead of 40 |
| 4. Phone, video calls and messages | Call from a Ghanaian or Nigerian buyer | Hold the call, take notes, rephrase |
| 5. Questions and requests | Complaint, follow-up, deadline request | Stay polite and precise under pressure |
This is level 2 of the Professional English track. Level 1 (25,000 FCFA) strengthens the basics if you are starting from scratch.
What English changes on your payslip
The gaps below are 2026 estimates observed in Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire. They depend on the sector and the company, and the course guarantees neither a job nor a salary.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
| Job | French-only monthly salary | With office English |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel receptionist | 150,000 to 200,000 FCFA | 180,000 to 260,000 FCFA |
| Administrative assistant | 180,000 to 250,000 FCFA | 220,000 to 320,000 FCFA |
| Export sales agent (fishing) | 200,000 to 280,000 FCFA | 250,000 to 350,000 FCFA |
| NGO program assistant | 250,000 to 350,000 FCFA | 300,000 to 430,000 FCFA |
| Tour guide or tourism agent | 100,000 to 180,000 FCFA plus tips | 140,000 to 240,000 FCFA plus tips |
Mini case study
Ndèye, 29, a receptionist at a hotel on Saint-Louis island, forwards every English email to her manager, about twenty a week. She takes the course (50,000 FCFA) over 6 weeks, 3 hours a week after her shift.
- She handles booking confirmations on her own with the module 3 templates.
- During the International Jazz Festival, she manages calls from English-speaking groups.
- At her annual review, she gets the head receptionist position, with 40,000 FCFA more per month.
The course is paid back in just over one month of extra salary. Over a year, the gain reaches 480,000 FCFA.
FAQ
What level do I need to start? An A1 to A2 level: you understand short sentences and some office words. If you are starting from zero, begin with level 1 of the track at 25,000 FCFA.
How long before I write my first email? Most learners send their first email without a translator by the third week, with 3 hours of work a week.
Is the course enough for a test like TOEIC? It targets office use, not an exam. It does help with comprehension, and the full 5-level track (350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000) goes further.
Can I follow it on my phone? Yes, lessons and audio exercises work on a phone, with about 1 GB of data for the 18 hours.
Is there a certificate? Yes, a Kolonell Academy certificate you can share on LinkedIn, useful to attach to an application in hospitality or at an NGO.
Take the next step. Enroll in Office English: emails, phone calls and daily exchanges: 18 hours online, explained in French, 50,000 FCFA, 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.
