The verdict in three sentences
In Thiès, cement plants, construction firms working on the Regional Express Train and motorway projects, NGOs and agricultural exporters receive emails and calls in English from Nigerian, Ghanaian, Chinese or European suppliers every week. An employee who answers alone, without a translator and without waiting for a colleague, is usually hired or promoted with 30,000 to 80,000 FCFA more per month than a French-only profile (2026 order of magnitude). Kolonell Academy's online Office English course, 18 hours for 50,000 FCFA, targets exactly this need if you already have the basics (A1 level).
How much does it cost to learn professional English in Thiès
Here are the realistic options for an assistant, a buyer, a technician or a programme officer in Thiès. Prices are 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Option | Indicative price | For 18 h of work | Advantage | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private lessons at home | 8,000 to 15,000 FCFA per hour | 144,000 to 270,000 FCFA | Tailored | Expensive, rarely office-focused |
| Language centre in Thiès or Dakar | 60,000 to 120,000 FCFA per month | 120,000 to 240,000 FCFA | Group, speaking | General English, fixed hours |
| Free apps (Duolingo, YouTube) | 0 to 6,000 FCFA per month | 0 to 12,000 FCFA | Regular practice | No professional emails or calls |
| International online certificate | 25,000 to 60,000 FCFA per month | 50,000 to 120,000 FCFA | Recognised | American or European context |
| Kolonell "Office English" | 50,000 FCFA | 50,000 FCFA | Ready templates, West African cases | Requires A1 basics |
Private lessons remain useful for speaking, but to write a correct email to a supplier in Accra or answer a call from Lagos, a structured method and templates get you there much faster.
What the course contains and where it fits
The course Office English: emails, phone calls and daily exchanges, taught in French, is level 2 Beginner, 50,000 FCFA, of the Professional English track. Its five modules: introducing yourself and your company, office and task vocabulary, simple emails, phone, video calls and messages, exchanges with colleagues and clients.
| Track level | Course | Price | Duration | Target work situation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Beginner | Beginner English: the basics | 25,000 FCFA | 13 h | Introductions, numbers, dates |
| 2 Beginner | Office English | 50,000 FCFA | 18 h | Emails, phone, messages |
| 3 Intermediate | Conversational English | 75,000 FCFA | 24 h | Speaking with ease at work |
| 4 Intermediate | Business English | 100,000 FCFA | 34 h | Presentations, negotiation |
| 5 Advanced | Expert English and leadership | 200,000 FCFA | 57 h | Management, technical English |
The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA. At the end of level 2, you leave with a recorded professional introduction, a glossary of 200 words and expressions, a kit of eight model emails adapted to your job and phone scripts (greeting, message, transfer, call-back).
What English concretely changes in a Thiès company
| Situation | Without English | With level 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Email from a parts supplier in Ghana | Translator, reply in 1 to 2 days | Same-day reply using a template |
| Call from an NGO partner in London | Someone looks for a colleague | You take the message and call back |
| Chasing an order in China | Confusing email, misunderstandings | Polite request, clear date and quantity |
| Job ad requiring English | Application rejected | Application eligible |
| Indicative salary gap | Baseline | + 30,000 to 80,000 FCFA per month |
Mini case study
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Fatou, 29, purchasing assistant at a building materials company in Thiès, earns 220,000 FCFA per month. She loses about three hours a week getting supplier emails translated. She takes Office English over six weeks, paid 50,000 FCFA via Wave, and reuses her eight model emails. Calculation: three hours saved per week, about 12 hours per month. Six months later, her employer gives her responsibility for imports with a bonus of 40,000 FCFA per month: the course is covered in under two months. Illustrative scenario; the gain depends on the company.
FAQ
Is my level enough to start?
If you can introduce yourself in a few sentences, spell your name and use the present simple, yes. Otherwise, start with level 1 at 25,000 FCFA, 13 hours.
How much time should I plan?
About 18 hours, across lessons, listening and exercises. At three hours a week, allow six weeks.
How do I practise phone calls online?
You record yourself and do simulated calls with a colleague or relative, using the scripts provided. A smartphone is enough for recording.
Will the certificate be useful to an employer?
It is a certificate verifiable online that confirms 18 hours and two completed projects. It does not replace an official test such as TOEIC, but it supports an application.
Does the course guarantee a pay rise?
No. The gap of 30,000 to 80,000 FCFA per month is an order of magnitude observed in 2026 in NGOs, logistics and hospitality, and it depends on the sector.
Take the next step. Enroll in Office English: emails, phone calls and daily exchanges: 18 hours online, 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR), 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.
