For Japanese, there are two strategies. For learning kanji, you should get the book 'Remembering the Kanji' by Heisig. For everything else, the most important point is that you need to practice getting the words and meaning OUT of your brain. Reading the words and reciting the words will only get the words IN to your brain, which is not the skill you need to practice. italki is an excellent way to practice getting the words OUT of your brain. Write sentences in your notebook, reply to other people's discussions, talk to a language partner using italki messages and Skype..... use any way that you can find to get those words out! You will make many mistakes, but that's how we learn.