What is the best way to learn a language?

I am currently taking Italian and am struggling through it. I just don’t feel like I’m getting hte language. Mainly, I don’t like the way the class is taught; there isn’t much speaking required on the students’ part, we just sit there and listen to the professor (who mostly lectures in English!).

Can anyone who has a success story in going from not knowing a language at all to becoming semi/fully fluent give me advice?

I’ve been thinking of getting some software to supplement my learning and I’m trying to work out a study abroad in Italy next summer but I’m nervous about trying to learn things in Italian if I don’t know how to speak it very well yet at all. I do well on the tests in the class but it’s mainly because I can memorize all the charts.