Join a language club or class. You get a trained instructor and you can also practice speaking the language with your classmates.
Access online language resources Livemocha.com, Mango.com, Busuu.com to learn the language. These resources are initially free of cost but require fees for advanced courses.They also have a huge member base where members can practice speaking and writing to each other. If money is not an issue, buy language learning tools like Rosetta Stone, Byki or Tellmemore.
Learn the 50-100 most common words used in the language. This helps expand your vocabulary as you may not understand a sentence completely, but do understand the context.
Borrow a phrase book from your local library. Practice using these phases on your friends even if they do not speak the language. Doing this helps overcome shyness and improves fluency.
Immerse yourself in the language's culture. Watch movies of that language and learn songs. Start by learning nursery rhymes and progress from there.
Find a pen pal who speaks the same language. This way you can also improve your writing skills.