start with getting a textbook and a dictionary

I start with googling for 'learn [language] bbc'. In fact, they have wonderful beginner courses in many languages. In particular, their beginner course in Italian 'la mappa mesteriosa' helped me to learn 'survival' italian in a couple of months and I felt perfectly safe in my trip to the south of Italy where there aren't many english-speaking people.

Listen to the language a lot, even if you don't understand it yet. Try to do anything possible in your target language. Try to read simple things. As soon as you start using a language you are on the right track.

First, learn to pronounce the language

Pimsleur