Programming is more than just learning the syntax (grammar, spelling, thesaurus). You also have to know how to build a program. How should a program begin and end, how should it be structured into logical parts.

When you write a formal letter you will start with greetings and end with your name and address. When you build a house, you will start with the base and end with the roof.

Programmers that already are experienced in other programming languages will recognize a lot of Perl code. Every now and then they'll be confused by similarities in Perl and "their own" programming language, that are not similarities but differences. But still, coping with these similarities and differences will help you learn Perl.