They used to have hooks, like crochet hooks, on the ends of knitting needles, but hundreds of years ago they figured out that the hooks mostly got in the way. But for the knitted cast on, hooks might be useful. What you're doing is grabbing the yarn in back and pulling it back through the loop on the left needle, and twisting it into a new loop and putting it on the left needle. Then you do it again. This cast-on can look very nice, but it is one of the harder ones to do, I think. I'm a pretty fast knitter when I get going, and I'm not fast or coordinated at this particular cast-on either. I can do it, and I do use it, but others are more comfortable. Don't feel bad or be hard on yourself if you are finding it challenging. Most of the time it would be fine to substitute a different cast-on that you like better or can do more easily.