I started learning German about 3 1/2 years ago. I came across a band called D'Artagnan and I liked their music, but couldn't understand the words. Then I realized that if I wanted to understand them it was going to be a matter of studying, my decision to learn German and later start learning Czech, ASL, Spanish, French, and many others was not a dramatic revelation. I came to the decision when I got bored on day, I looked up a vocabulary chart of the internet and began reading. I didn't know this then, but learning German has opened up so many doors. It also has some pretty cool options for movies and other media like music.
Year one was all about vocabulary, I got my first German dictionary and started to learn the words. The vocabulary part was not very difficult, but starting to learn the sentence structure was complicated. It is important not to confuse complicated with difficult and difficult with impossible. Learning another language is possible, it is important to have the strength to keep going when it gets hard and to give yourself time to understand the material instead of thinking you are incapable. I am self taught in all of the languages I am learning to speak including German, but if you decide to learn the language yourself then you may decide that having a teacher many be the best way for you to learn. Learning with a teacher is worth the same admiration as someone who decided to teach themselves. Selfteaching just tends to be cheered more because of the issues that many independent language learners tend to go through in the process of learning their taget language. By the end of year 1, I was at the very edge of being A1 and about to be considered A2. This just goes to show how slow language learning truly is as a process. Language learning can take a few years, or it can be a lifetime commitment. This commitment does not always mean you will be staring down at your notebook for many years or that you will even be using your dictionary everyday, it just means that you have decided to begin using the language in everyday life even if it just means counting in you target language to see if you have enough enough pencils or something. Using your target language in everyday life could also mean watching German shows or movies, German music is also an option when it comes to this as well. Reading in your target language is also a very good way to build vocabulary in your target language and begin to understand written language with more skill.