== I have a suggestion for an external link == 

 Here is a short blog that I have been working on. http://yagokoroshi.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/how-to-become-fluent-in-japanese-without-taking-a-formal-class/ 
 I believe that it contains a list of all the materials needed for someone to learn Japanese fluently.  I have used this same method to place into the third year of Japanese in college without taking any formal classes and I will continue to use this method until I am fluent.