[user5454]

This. I studied German for six years in school and have yet to complete a successful conversation. I worked as a volunteer in a children's home in Thailand for a couple of months and while far from fluent in Thai, I can manage most situations.

I very firmly believe that languages are taught the wrong way in school. There's too much focus on grammar but not enough of getting a "feel" for the language. You need to soak in it for that. You shouldn't need to think about how to say something (but that's what German is to me, whenever I try to say things the "is it accusative or dative?"-question pops up in my mind).

Needing to think about how to say what you want to say is like needing to think about how to move your feet in order to walk.