How much PHP should one know BEFORE using CodeIgniter?

[eluser]JPrieto[/eluser]
i agree

In college i studied

BASIC
FORTRAN
COBOL
RPG

then once out of college I discovered PHP

the logic is the same, only the syntax differs

one question I have:

are "hooks" good to use? you recommend I use them?
in what situation will they be useful?
and where can i learn about "hooks" a bit more?

whoa .... too many questions on my part -- right?

i just want to learn PHP well --- be the best at it -- and contriube to CI