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would enroll

YOU HAVE DIED OF DYSENTERY

I would try to:

1) Immerse yourself with native speakers; attend a language club or conversation class, or befriend someone willing to have conversations with you in that language

2) Acquire children's books or otherwise simply written stories in your chosen language, maybe even ones you have a passing knowledge of already; get to where you can simply read them without having to translate. You can try checking at your library or used bookstores if cost is an issue. children's manga would be an easy Japanese source since the pictures can help clue you in on the meaning, for German you can try the library or used bookstores, sometimes I see these types of books there. Language-specific readers for education are handy, too.

3) Acquire a decent language learning system, with books and CDs and such, or a CDROM program. Rosetta Stone is supposed to be awesome but expensive. Also look at the library or used bookstores if cost is an option. You'll want something that explains the structure of the language and its grammar, maybe even with some practice drills and worksheets. Actually set yourself a schedule and stick to it; basically enroll yourself in a language learning class.

I would recommend getting a good dictionary as well, and for Japanese you'll want everything kana-based rather than romanji (that is to say, using the actual written Japanese syllabic system rather than the English transliteration. This can be a little tough to find sometimes, but worth the effort to hunt it down).