[Xentron]

Howdy there.
I've been a Japanese culture fan for let's say 10 years now give or take.
Never really thought about learning the language because it seemed so strange an foreign to my own native tongue that I already gave up hope on it before I even began.
Just a few months back though I started to plan a trip to Japan by the end of 2010 and it got me real excited about learning the language.

How do you guys go about learning your Japanese?
I read that a whole lot of you guys just go to school and practice it the "old fashioned way".

I have been trying the self study way for these past few months and I must say it's very hard but also I make great progress understanding the language.
I use a combination of multiple self study courses at the same time.
I also try to immerse myself as much as is possible in order to hear the language as much as I can.

What worked best for you guys?
I also seriously consider driving 100 miles once a week to a tutor in order to increase the speed of my Japanese intake.

Maybe you guys have some tips for me?

I already completed the following:
- Kana studies (getting my "Remembering the Kanji I" book soon!)
- Pimsleurs I and II (III in progress)
- Rosetta stone Japanese I (starting II as soon as the CD arrives)