How I did it: in my school they offered german classes, so i just chose to take german as well as french. doing both languages was difficult but worth it as now i have 3 i can speak at least basically. i had some really bad classes though, so i'd recommend maybe learning at a college where people have chosen to be there
Lessons & tips: visit germany- i went on an exchange and it really hels your conversational german. i still keep in touch with my exchange partner and she's visiting me this summer. (don't visit germany in a heat wave though, the touristy things are difficult when you feel like you're going to collapse!)
don't insult german people of mention nazis or germany's past-no matter how drunk you get
