I'm learning japanese as well (DUHH, why else would I be her) I'm taking a program but it's not an easy language by any means.
I thought it would go much faster but I'm getting to conversational level and I can read some Kanji.
I found the review for the program on http://bit.ly/1cvbAOg.
So let me get to the point Is there someone who wants to skype in Japanese with me?