Learning to speak Japanese

In preparation for my Tokyo trip in October, I'm hittin' the books... again. And I'm curious about what you do to help you study. Is there a series of CDs or tapes you would recommend? Something you've tried and hated, something on youtube that's quirky enough to actually help?

Here's you chance to tell your partners all about it. With luck, we'll also overcome speaking paralysis!! lol

You'll email your partners 3 pieces of media (books, CDs, tapes, etc.) you like or feel are helpful. Tell them why they worked for you. And you'll also send them one dog. Something that was a waste of the precious time you lavished on them. You can tell them why it blew, too.

And if we're happy enough with the swap, we'll do another round with workbook photocopies all around. ;-)