The verdict in three sentences
If you read your English emails easily but stay silent in meetings, your block is spoken and is fixed with repeated situations, not more grammar. In Dakar, speaking confidence weighs on hiring and pay: the bilingual job premium sits around 15 to 30% at NGOs and multinationals, as a 2026 order of magnitude. The course Conversational English: speaking with ease at work, taught in French, costs 75,000 FCFA (about 115 EUR / 133 USD) for 24 hours, payable with Wave or Orange Money.
The typical profile: a manager who understands but does not dare speak
Project officer at an NGO in Mermoz, logistics manager at the Autonomous Port, consultant in Almadies: many Dakar professionals have an A2 to B1 level in writing. The day a partner from London, Accra or Nairobi joins the video call, they translate in their head and the sentence comes too late. The situations below are the ones the course makes you rehearse.
| Work situation | What blocks today | What you practise |
|---|---|---|
| Progress update in a meeting | Word-for-word translation, silence | Present perfect and transition phrases |
| Giving your opinion to a donor | Fear of contradicting | Agreeing or not, nuancing, justifying |
| Job interview in English | Answers too short | Talking for two minutes about your background |
| Customer or supplier call | Accent misunderstood | Word stress, rhythm, endings |
| Welcoming a foreign partner | Awkward small talk | Networking conversation from start to finish |
| Unclear instructions on a video call | Nodding without understanding | Checking, asking for details, rephrasing |
2026 prices in Dakar: private institute, coach or online course
Prices are 2026 orders of magnitude for Dakar.
| Option | Indicative 2026 price | Volume | Strength | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kolonell Academy, level 3 Advanced | 75,000 FCFA (115 EUR) | 24 h, 114 exercises | African work situations, self-paced | No face-to-face teacher |
| Private institute (Plateau, Point E) | 150,000 to 350,000 FCFA | 30 to 60 h in a group | Group setting, mock exam | Fixed hours, often after 6 pm |
| Individual coach | 15,000 to 25,000 FCFA per hour | 24 h = 360,000 to 600,000 FCFA | Immediate correction | High total cost |
| Online conversation platforms | 5,000 to 12,000 FCFA per session | Variable | Native speakers | No structured programme |
| Full Professional English track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | Beginner to business | Complete progression | Commitment over several months |
The Kolonell course is level 3 Advanced, 75,000 FCFA, of the Professional English track. It requires a starting level of A2 to B1: if you cannot yet introduce yourself, start with level 1 at 25,000 FCFA.
What spoken English earns in Dakar in 2026
| Job in Dakar | Salary without spoken English (gross monthly) | With fluent spoken English | Indicative gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| NGO project officer | 450,000 to 650,000 FCFA | 550,000 to 800,000 FCFA | +100,000 to +150,000 FCFA |
| Port logistics assistant | 250,000 to 350,000 FCFA | 300,000 to 450,000 FCFA | +50,000 to +100,000 FCFA |
| Upmarket hotel receptionist | 180,000 to 250,000 FCFA | 230,000 to 320,000 FCFA | +50,000 to +70,000 FCFA |
| Import-export sales rep | 300,000 to 450,000 FCFA | 380,000 to 560,000 FCFA | +80,000 to +110,000 FCFA |
| Independent consultant | Local assignments | Assignments with English-speaking donors | Access to new markets |
These gaps are 2026 estimates observed on the job market; they depend on the sector and employer, and the course guarantees neither a job nor a salary.
Mini case study
Moussa, 34, programme assistant at an NGO in Dakar, earns 420,000 FCFA gross per month. A monitoring officer position opens, with weekly English meetings with headquarters in London.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
- Course: 75,000 FCFA, 24 hours spread over 8 weeks, 3 hours a week in the evening.
- Interview preparation: he rehearses his two-minute introduction and three project examples.
- If he gets the job at 500,000 FCFA, the gap is 80,000 FCFA per month: the course is paid back in under 4 weeks of salary.
Without a promotion, the gain is also confidence: Moussa speaks up in meetings instead of letting his manager talk for him.
FAQ
What level do I need for this course?
An A2 to B1 level: you read and write simple English. If you still freeze when introducing yourself, level 1 at 25,000 FCFA is a better fit.
Are 24 hours enough to speak in meetings?
They are enough to talk for two minutes on a work topic and give a simple progress update, provided you practise about 3 hours a week for 8 weeks. Fluency in negotiation belongs to levels 4 and 5.
Why not go to an institute in Plateau?
An institute costs 150,000 to 350,000 FCFA with fixed hours, often hard for a manager. The online course costs 75,000 FCFA and fits your schedule, with 114 exercises.
Does the course prepare for interviews in English?
Yes, the last module works on real conversations: networking, welcoming a partner, client calls. The same structures serve to present your background in an interview.
How do I pay?
With Wave or Orange Money, 75,000 FCFA in one go. The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA (about 534 EUR) instead of 450,000 FCFA.
Take the next step. Enroll in Conversational English: speaking with ease at work: 24 hours, 75,000 FCFA (about 115 EUR / 133 USD), 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.