The verdict in three sentences
In Thiès, the English you need at work mostly comes down to writing a clear email, handling a five-minute call and scheduling a meeting, not discussing Shakespeare. A targeted 18-hour course at 50,000 FCFA costs less than ten hours of private tutoring and gives you reusable templates from the first week. For an employee who already has the basics (A1 level), it is the shortest path to a bilingual role or bonus.
Why English is becoming essential in Thiès companies
Thiès is home to employers with international exposure: cement and extractive industries, construction companies on the main highways, suppliers to AIBD airport and the Diamniadio zone, NGOs and cooperation projects. Equipment comes from Indian, Chinese, Turkish or Nigerian suppliers, and the common language is English.
| Work situation | Typical frequency in Thiès (2026 estimate) | What goes wrong without training |
|---|---|---|
| Email from a foreign supplier (quote, delivery) | Every week | Machine translation, reply 2 days later |
| Call from an English-speaking technician or client | Several times a month | Nobody dares to pick up |
| Visit from a partner or donor | A few times a year | Clumsy welcome |
| Donor report or form in English | Monthly in NGOs | Misunderstandings |
| Video conference meeting | Monthly | Passive participation |
| Taking a phone message | Every week | Information lost |
How much a professional English course costs: 2026 comparison
| Option | Indicative price | Volume | Office-oriented content | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free apps (Duolingo, YouTube) | 0 FCFA | Unlimited | Low | Tourist vocabulary, no business emails |
| Private tutor in Thiès | 5,000 to 10,000 FCFA per hour | 18 h, i.e. 90,000 to 180,000 FCFA | Depends on the tutor | High cost, schedules |
| In-person language center (Thiès or Dakar) | 60,000 to 150,000 FCFA per term | 30 to 40 h | Medium, general program | Commuting, fixed pace |
| International online certificates | 0 to 40,000 FCFA | 10 to 20 h | Medium | American or European examples |
| Kolonell Office English course: emails, phone and daily exchanges | 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR) | 18 h online | High, ready-to-use templates | Requires A1 basics |
This course, taught in French for French speakers, is level 2 (Beginner) of the Professional English track, which runs from the first "Hello" to business English. If you are starting from zero, level 1 costs 25,000 FCFA, and the full 5-level track comes to 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA bought individually.
What English is worth: 2026 orders of magnitude
| Profile in Thiès | Salary without English | With working English | Indicative gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative assistant | 180,000 FCFA | 220,000 to 250,000 FCFA | +20 to 40% |
| Logistics officer or storekeeper | 150,000 FCFA | 180,000 to 210,000 FCFA | +20 to 40% |
| Maintenance technician | 250,000 FCFA | 300,000 to 350,000 FCFA | +20 to 40% |
| NGO project assistant | 250,000 FCFA | 300,000 to 350,000 FCFA | +20 to 40% |
| Sales rep | 200,000 FCFA plus commissions | 240,000 to 280,000 FCFA plus commissions | +20 to 40% |
The gap takes the form of a bonus, a bilingual role or a promotion. It depends on the employer and remains an estimate, not a promise.
Mini case study
Ibrahima, 31, an administrative assistant at a construction company in Thiès, earns 180,000 FCFA a month. Every email from a Turkish supplier goes through a colleague or a machine translator, a day late. He takes the Kolonell course over six weeks, 3 hours a week, in the evening on his phone, and builds a bank of templates: quote request, follow-up, delivery confirmation, phone message.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Cost: 50,000 FCFA plus about 4,000 FCFA of data. His employer puts him in charge of foreign suppliers with a 40,000 FCFA monthly bonus, 22% more. The course pays for itself in just over a month. If he gets no bonus, he still saves the four to five hours a week he used to spend getting things translated.
FAQ
What level do I need for this course?
An A1 level is enough: introducing yourself, understanding simple sentences, counting. If not, level 1 of the track (13 h, 25,000 FCFA) gets you there.
Can I take the course on a phone only?
Yes, lessons, audio and quizzes work on a smartphone. Plan for 300 to 500 MB of data a week if you have no Wi-Fi.
How long before I write my first email alone?
Most learners send a first email without a translator around week three, with 3 hours of work a week. Phone calls take a bit more practice.
How do I pay from Thiès?
You pay 50,000 FCFA with Wave or Orange Money at enrollment. Access is immediate after confirmation.
Does the certificate matter to an employer?
It is a private Kolonell certificate, verifiable online and shareable on LinkedIn. It does not replace an official test like TOEIC, but it shows an 18-hour course completed with quizzes passed.
Take the next step. Enroll in Office English: emails, phone and daily exchanges: 18 h online (taught in French), 50,000 FCFA, verifiable 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.
