The verdict in three sentences
In Dakar, port logistics, NGOs, hotels, call centers and companies working with the Gambia, Ghana or Nigeria receive emails and phone calls in English every day, and the employee who can handle them quickly becomes indispensable. Going from school-level English to usable office English mostly takes email templates, standard phone phrases and regular practice, not two years of grammar. The Kolonell Office English course (level 2, 18 h, 50,000 FCFA, about 76 EUR) targets exactly that need, online and self-paced.
Prices of professional English courses in Dakar in 2026
The table compares the usual options for a Dakar employee, in total cost. Institute fees are 2026 orders of magnitude seen in Plateau, Mermoz and Almadies.
| Option | 2026 price (FCFA) | Duration | Schedule | Office-focused content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kolonell Academy, Office English (level 2) | 50,000 | 18 h | Self-paced, online | Yes, emails and phone |
| Language institute in Dakar | 150,000 to 350,000 per term | 30 to 50 h | Fixed slots | Partly, general English |
| Private lessons at home | 7,000 to 15,000 per hour | As needed | Flexible | Depends on the teacher |
| Free or freemium apps | 0 to 5,000 per month | Variable | Flexible | Low, general vocabulary |
| YouTube videos | 0 | Variable | Flexible | Rarely structured |
| Full Kolonell Professional English track | 350,000 instead of 450,000 | 146 h | Online | Yes, from beginner to leadership |
The Office English course: emails, phone and everyday exchanges, taught in French for French speakers, is level 2 of the Professional English track. It assumes basics (A1 level) and teaches you to present your job and company, write a clear email with ready-to-use templates, answer the phone, take a message and talk with an English-speaking visitor or colleague.
What office English changes on the payslip
The amounts below are 2026 orders of magnitude in Dakar. They depend on the employer and the job and are not a promise.
| Job in Dakar | Monthly salary without English (FCFA) | With office English (FCFA) | Indicative gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freight forwarding agent or customs declarant (Dakar port) | 200,000 to 300,000 | 260,000 to 400,000 | +60,000 to 100,000 |
| Hotel receptionist | 120,000 to 180,000 | 170,000 to 280,000 | +50,000 to 100,000 |
| Call center agent | 120,000 to 170,000 | 180,000 to 300,000 on an English desk | +60,000 to 130,000 |
| NGO administrative assistant | 200,000 to 300,000 | 280,000 to 450,000 | +80,000 to 150,000 |
| Import-export sales rep | 180,000 to 280,000 | 250,000 to 400,000 | +70,000 to 120,000 |
| Driver or guide for expatriates | 100,000 to 150,000 | 150,000 to 250,000 | +50,000 to 100,000 |
In many companies, the gap does not come through an official bonus but through access to a different job: the English-speaking desk, international customer service, the country representative's office.
The English track, level by level
| Level | Course | Price (FCFA) | Duration | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beginner English | 25,000 | 13 h | Introduce yourself, understand the essentials |
| 2 | Office English | 50,000 | 18 h | Emails, phone, everyday exchanges |
| 3 | Conversational English | 75,000 | 24 h | Speak with ease at work |
| 4 | Business English | 100,000 | 34 h | Present, negotiate, write documents |
| 5 | Expert English | 200,000 | 57 h | Leadership, management, technical English |
The full Professional English track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA (about 535 EUR instead of 685 EUR). If you remember almost nothing of high school English, start with level 1 at 25,000 FCFA.
Mini case study
Moussa, 31, is a freight forwarding agent at a logistics company near the port of Dakar, paid 240,000 FCFA a month. Every week, he forwards about ten emails from Ghanaian and Nigerian carriers to a colleague, which delays some files by 24 to 48 hours.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
He completes the course in 6 weeks, 3 hours a week. He builds a library of 15 email templates (confirmation, follow-up, document request, delay) and answers them himself. Three months later, his employer gives him the English-speaking client portfolio with a bonus of 60,000 FCFA a month.
Calculation: 50,000 FCFA of training for a 60,000 FCFA monthly gain, the investment pays back in less than one month of bonus, about 4 weeks. Over a year, the gross gain reaches 720,000 FCFA (about 1,100 EUR). It is an estimate, and the gain depends on the employer's policy.
FAQ
What level do I need to start?
A1 is enough: being able to introduce yourself and understand simple sentences. Below that, start with level 1 at 25,000 FCFA, about 13 hours.
How long before I write my first email in English?
Email templates come early in the course. Most learners send a first email without a translator around week three, working 3 hours a week.
Do I practice speaking?
Yes, with audio dialogues, standard phrases and message-taking exercises. To go further orally, level 3 conversational (75,000 FCFA, 24 h) is a good complement.
Can I take the course on my phone?
Yes, the platform works on smartphones. A 2 to 3 GB monthly data plan is enough to follow the lessons in Dakar on 4G.
How do I enroll and pay?
The 50,000 FCFA enrollment is paid by Wave or Orange Money. Access opens as soon as payment is confirmed.
Take the next step. Enroll in Office English: emails, phone and everyday exchanges: 18 hours online, 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR), certificate included. 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.
