Also I would add read, read, read
I find that even if what you read is going a bit over your head at the time the concept usually sticks enough so that when you encounter a need for it in practise you know exactly where to go back to for help. Then with some material in one hand and the relevant problem to a apply it to in another you're in the ideal learning environment.
A great thing to google when trying go get exposure to a new language is "
<language-name> idioms". That usually throws up some good and broadly applicable advice.
