Tales from the patriarchy
The way of properly learning a language is to do what languages are made for: use it. Ideally, live your usual life, do whatever it is you like doing, and just try to find a way to insert that language you're learning into your daily routine. So if, say, you like movies, and you're learning Persian, well, stop watching Hollywood crap and go pick up some Persian movies.
I get asked about books on Chinese history, and I tend not to know what to say. I haven't read a lot of Chinese history books in ...