TRYING to master an alien language is never easy. Trying to master an alien language that lacks all apparent logic (if the plural of mouse is mice why isn’t the plural of house hice?) sounds like a near-impossible task. It doesn’t help that the English language is in a neck-and-neck race with Govinda movies to secure the top position on the senselessness index. What makes matters worse is that neither the language nor the movies have necks. See what I mean?

But take heart, there is no need to work yourself up over this. If you feel like a fish out of water in the company of those who have an enviable ease with the language, here’s something to lift your spirits. With a little effort there is no reason why you can’t take to English as easily as duck takes to water. If you take every opportunity that comes your way to learn new words and phrases and increase your vocabulary, the day is not far when even the most obscure corners of the language will be lit up for you. An uphill task it might be, an impossible one it is not.

People go about a difficult task in different ways. While consistent, diligent effort comes easy to some people, and they work day in, day out, others work in fits and starts. While I am inclined towards the former as a more reliable way to learn, I won’t press my point. Ultimately, it is to each his own and you are at liberty to choose that style which works for you. Here’s wishing you all the best in your journey into the enchanting and enlightening, thought not always easy, corridors of English!

Neck-and-neck race: if two things or people are neck and neck in a competition or race, they each have an equal chance of winning.

Take heart: to feel encouraged or have more hope

Work someone up: to make someone very angry, excited or upset about something

Feel like a fish out of water: to feel uncomfortable because you are in an unfamiliar place or situation

Lift someone’s spirits: to become happy or hopeful

Take to something like a duck to water: to learn how to do something very easily or quickly

Come your way: if something comes your way you get to experience it, especially if you were not expecting it

Uphill task: something that is very difficult to do and needs a lot of effort

Come easy: require little or no effort

Day in, day out: everyday for a long time

Fits and starts: repeatedly starting and stopping

Press one’s point: to emphasise one’s position

To each his own: used to mean that we all have different ideas about how to do things

Works for someone: used to say that something is acceptable to someone

Someone who is preoccupied or obsessed with an idea is often said to have a bee in his bonnet. Though the origins of this expression are obscure, but it is thought to have come from Robert Herrick’s poem Mad Maid’s Song (1648):

(Reference: Longman Advanced American Dictionary).