I believe grammar is important, but only up to a certain point. You need it becuase it wil help you to make less mistakes when you speak. But there are so many irregularities and exceptions in most languages that trying to learn all or even most of the grammar rules would be futile. When learning as a beginner I believe simple grammer should be learned, and as you advance obviously more complex things can be added.

Having said that, we never learn grammer when learning our first language. We simply become accustomed to what sounds right and what doesnt through lots of listening. Having to learn everything in a second language this way isnt practical because it would take a very long time. But being able to figure things out certain things from context is definitely possible. I have learned many grammar rules this way. 

So grammar is importnat, but you'll be just fine if you learn a bit and listen a lot. Listening is the most important thing. The grammar will come later. Good luck  :)

Every thing that has been said makes a lot of sense. Reading Harry Potter is a technique that I have heard of a lot, but I've never been able to accomplish it. I tried it once but I was frustrated very easily. Absorbing intersting material is something that I have been doing and its actually worked very well. I believe I should do it more often. Thank you for that Marcus. Allen, your comment makes a lot of sense as well. Being able to speak well takes a lot of speaking, something that I have not been doing enough. But that is why I am here. In a way, it seems like conversational fluency is much more of a developed skill than I had previously thought.