My ambition is to reach basic conversational level in both Russian and Italian.
In order to do this, the steps have been:
1) learn basic grammar using teach yourself books and tapes, as well as apps such as Duolingo and Babbel
2) Join group classes with a teacher
3) read simplified texts
4) watch videos made by native speakers:
realrussianclub.org (also a YouTube channel “real Russian club”
learnrussian.org
YouTube channel “be fluent in Russian”
YouTube channel “RU-land club”
YouTube channel “Russian for education”
YouTube channel “Anastasia Semina”
YouTube channel “Italy made easy”
learnitalianwithlucrezia.com
5) make contact with native speakers using
Italki.com
HiNative (also called Lang-8)