If you're an analytical person who is confident in your ability to learn grammar and organize your learning -- and I imagine this applies to lots of folks on HN -- your main concerns will be:
1) Practice with a native speaker.
2) Ongoing motivation to study.
Craigslist may solve this problem for you, depending on where you live and what you're studying. On Craigslist you'll find native speakers offering conversation at very low prices. Here's a current example on the Austin Craigslist:
"Conversational Japanese lesson for 20 dollars per hour (Central Austin)
Let's meet at a coffee shop, and speak in Japanese; please buy me a drink. I am a Japanese female who moved from Tokyo recently. 20 dollars per hour. "
I'm guessing this person doesn't provide organized lessons and help understanding grammar, but honestly, I've tried a couple of "teachers" charging $20-$25 per hour, and they didn't either. People with good teaching skills charge more, I guess. $20 per hour to talk to a native speaker is worth every penny, though, if only because you make sure you study so you aren't embarrassed by your lack of progress since last time. If it helps (it helped me) you can cultivate a mild crush on your tutor for extra motivation ;-)
1) Practice with a native speaker.
2) Ongoing motivation to study.
Craigslist may solve this problem for you, depending on where you live and what you're studying. On Craigslist you'll find native speakers offering conversation at very low prices. Here's a current example on the Austin Craigslist:
"Conversational Japanese lesson for 20 dollars per hour (Central Austin)
Let's meet at a coffee shop, and speak in Japanese; please buy me a drink. I am a Japanese female who moved from Tokyo recently. 20 dollars per hour. "
I'm guessing this person doesn't provide organized lessons and help understanding grammar, but honestly, I've tried a couple of "teachers" charging $20-$25 per hour, and they didn't either. People with good teaching skills charge more, I guess. $20 per hour to talk to a native speaker is worth every penny, though, if only because you make sure you study so you aren't embarrassed by your lack of progress since last time. If it helps (it helped me) you can cultivate a mild crush on your tutor for extra motivation ;-)