How did you really learn a foreign language?
peterbraden: Live there. Most people I've talked to suggest that a year is enough to become fairly fluent. Also, you'll need to socialise when you're there - going to another country and hanging out with ex-pats is a sure way to not learn anything.Although a grounding in the language from a course is good, until you are racking your brains for the correct word while talking to someone, you're not really training your brain usefully.