Sequoyah had to convince the Cherokee Council East that his syllabary was good, and that all Cherokee should use it.  Without the Council's approval, the entire 12 years of work would be wasted.  Sequoyah and Ah-yoka traveled back east with the hope that he and the syllabary would pass approval.  When Sequoyah and Ah-yoka arrived before the council, Sequoyah said he was going to perform a test to prove that anyone could use the syllabary.  Sequoyah had the council put together a phrase for Ah-yoka to read back to them.  If she read it correctly, then the syllabary would be a success, but if she did not, then the council would not approve.  Ah-yoka passed the test.  Soon, everyone was using the syllabary because it was so easy to learn.  The syllabary was used in northeastern Oklahoma, as well as near the Qualla Reservation in North Carolina.  An estimated 10,000-20,000 people used the syllabary.  It became the second most used language in the United States.  The first was English.