Hi! I've been studying Japanese for a year and a half on my own and I have a lot of advice! I feel like I've been very successful haha but of course I'm not that good yet, I just mean that my study methods have definitely worked.B

But anyway, it's a lot to type so if you'd like to skype I'd be happy to tell you and show you the things I use to study :)  I can give you a lot of specific advice and resources, if that's what you're looking for  

I have never seen "Tae Kim's guide to learning Japanese" being mentioned here and as that was the only resource for learning I used I would obviously recommend it to you as well. I have it downloaded on my phone, but I'm not sure about using it on a computer, maybe you can check.

 However, I myself am not yet fluent either but I am definitely on a level when I can understand most stuff about daily life and so on. I have been learning Japanese for about two years, and if I'm honest, I got my first knowledge from anime when it comes to simple phrases and vocabulary. Well, when I actually started learning it for real, I was mostly focusing on learning kanji for the first half of the year, learning grammar along with it - I just learned kanji the simple way, rewriting it as many times as I had to to remember them (though, now I am mostly learning how to read them only). Also, for the first year or so I didn't really have much contact with actual Japanese other than watching animation and trying to read manga occasionally. I decided to build up my vocabulary before getting in contact with Japanese people and trying to talk to them. Now, I just keep in contact with Japanese mostly by watching YouTube videos, listening to the songs, and as I am a fan of anime and such stuff I also read manga in Japanese (preferring the ones with furigana as it makes it a lot easier). Language exchange sites such as this one made learning easier as well - and once you get to a certain level when you can understand more, I think that you can focus on learning Japanese the fun way, as I am planning now with playing games in Japanese since I'm a fan. :D

 I have never taken any classes nor have I had a tutor, but I think that you can actually study a language way faster yourself than you would in class.

 I'm not sure how much of this actually helps you since I mostly described my own experience learning Japanese. But I'm glad if it did in a way.

Since I'm Japanese, I don't know which way of learning Japanese is the best for you. Other learners can give better advice than me. I just want to say that not only Japanese, but also every language has difficulties for learners. Learning Japanese isn't special because for us, learning English is difficult, too. 

anyway, I'll make my suggestions for your translations.