Conclusion

       As you struggle to learn English on the go, on your own, without a foreigner, you will see there are many problems.  There are problems coming from within, from without—from anywhere.  They may be slow or fast, from a stranger or from a friend—or even closer.  “A man’s enemies shall be members of his own household.”  Make no mistake—your English knowledge is under threat.  Many aspects of life are waiting to take it away—by night or by day.  “If you do not use it, you will lose it.”  This law starts from the moment a new piece of knowledge settles in your brain.  This section is very depressing, but it is important to know what you are up against, before you meet it, and to know what you have to do.  In other words, “Know your enemy”…before you fight. 
       The enemies against you are numerous.  You need to “count the cost” right now.  Consider these words: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower.  Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?  For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ ”.  Well, people may not ridicule you, but the ridicule may come from within, as you listen to the voices of regret later on in life. 
       Finally, these problems also provide you with a blueprint for avoiding these same problems (or at least managing them), and for exploiting them creatively.  Many difficulties contain in them the seeds of their solution, if you dig.  We will examine these in the next section.  The tone of this text will also become more positive and optimistic.