So, you have decided to master English! Welcome to the English language! Trying to find logic in language, any language, is futile. Thousands of years of human use has produced a contraption that does a job, but looks and works like it’s held together with chewing gum and baling wire. (You mean to tell me the word colonel has an R sound? About half the letters in the spelling of the word knowledge are just for show?) [borrowed from ‘wordsmith.org’] Keep it light, have some fun, it’s all a game. You don’t have to get to the top of the class, just persevere. Read English books, speak English and don’t be concerned if you make mistakes. Stick with it and before you know it, you will be proficient in English. English is becoming more and more important in the world. A few reasons why you should learn English: • English has recently become the most important language in South African courts. In March 2017 the use of Afrikaans in our courts was abolished. • English is the most commonly used language among foreign language speakers. Throughout the world, when people with different languages come together they commonly use English to communicate. • English is the language of science, of aviation, computers, diplomacy, and tourism. Knowing English increases your chances of getting a good job in a multinational company within your home country or of finding work abroad. • English is also the language of the Internet. Many websites are written in English – you will be able to understand them and to take part in forums and discussions.