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Learn Through Imitation
Every language contains a core body of basic knowledge that you have to absorb before you will be able to communicate at a functional level. For example, learning the verb conjugations is probably the most daunting task that beginning students of European languages face.
Japanese also has certain "core skills": the kanji, the main components of grammar, etc. However, once you have mastered these basics, the number one rule for making progress is "learn through imitation."
Why is "learning through imitation" so important to students of Japanese? Unlike Spanish, French, and German, the Japanese language is completely unrelated to English. Therefore, the "Japanese way" of expressing ideas is often counterintuitive from an English-speaker's perspective. Consider, for example, the following:
Natsu ni wa tamago wa nagamochi shinai.
Eggs don't stay fresh for long in the summer.
My translation is somewhat colloquial. A word-for-word translation would not be as user-friendly. The core element of the above sentence, naga-mochi suru, is an odd beast - a combination of the adjective nagai (long) and the verb motsu (to have, to hold) attached to the generic "to do" verb - suru.
From an English-speaker's perspective, this is an odd way of attacking the idea that "eggs don't fresh for long (or quickly spoil) in summer." But this makes perfect sense within the world of Japanese.
The Japanese language is full of little syntactical nuggets like this that you will need to commit to memory in order to become a truly competent speaker of the language. Insights like the one above cannot be laid out in a grammar book. The only way for you to learn them is through habitual listening and reading. You will then need to reinforce your knowledge by applying what you have learned in your own speech and writing.
You should take every available opportunity to expose yourself to "real world" Japanese. Approach the challenge from multiple angles: Listen to Internet radio broadcasts, converse with native speakers, and watch Japanese television.
When you come across a new expression that strikes you as useful, write it down in a notebook or on a flashcard. Don't let an unfamiliar expression go by without finding out what it means and committing it to memory. Make a habit of writing down everything new that you encounter. You will be surprised at how much this practice accelerates your progress.
Finally, once you have mastered the kanji, become a glutton for materials written for native Japanese-speakers. If you don't have regular access to Japanese books and newspapers, then seek out some corners of the Japanese-language Internet that interest you and devour a little bit more everyday. As a general rule, the most articulate native speakers of any language are the ones who read voraciously. The same principle applies to non-native speakers of a language. Don't let yourself be satisfied with a basic knowledge of Japanese. Strive for excellence.
