100% any languages that I have really learned I was building something along side it. What i usually do is start with a programming language book X for dummies or an equivalent, find things like setting up my environment in a stupid simple format and common gotchas, and as I get more comfortable, i take the training wheels off and either go to a more advanced course or book or just use Google instead. Like Farouq said, after you learned a couple languages, it progressively gets easier to pick up new ones