Literacy unlocks doors for everyone, including those who live in poverty and lack of opportunity. You're reading this, so you're a proficient reader, but did you ever stop to think about what it takes to read a word? It's more complicated than you might think! English is the most complicated Language of all alphabetic languages in the world, and so it is the hardest to learn to read. Reading Comprehension, understanding what you read, is the ultimate goal, but just decoding the words is quite a process for young learners or older learners who struggle. As Rotarians who value and focus on the gift of literacy, it is important to have an understanding of what it takes to read a word.