I wish they had Japanese at my college. I started 'learning' it around 8th grade but wasn't able to take a class until last year as a Senior. So really I actually started learning last year. It was pretty much a study hall for me.
I found I picked it up quite easily and was always 3-4 lessons ahead of everyone else. Now I'm positive that's only because:
A) It was elementary Japanese and the basics aren't really that hard.
and B) I already had experience with learning another language so it made it easier for me.
Now that I don't have the class anymore, it's a struggle to continue my studies. I have two other language classes (Advanced German and Elementary Chinese) to think about, not to mention the science/writing/mathematics courses needed for my other major. However I don't want to give up Japanese, I love it so much!
As I can't really measure my study time in hours, (there aren't enough hours in the day) any suggestions for the most effective way to keep learning/have it fresh in my mind until I can get back to a classroom setting?
*phew, that was a lot*