Good post!!
I personally think that the best trick to learn a new language is to listen to music and sing, for what you mentioned about fluency ... It has also worked a lot to see series with the original language (in my case, every day I try to learn English ) ... PD: It is also important to have someone with whom to practice the language you are learning.
YO HABLO ESPAÑOL :)
SALUDOS DESDE VENEZUELA!