It seems that OP don't realize fully that there is much more to language than syntax. Java's syntax is similar to C but the languages are used for entirely diff

It seems that OP don't realize fully that there is much more to language than syntax. Java's syntax is similar to C but the languages are used for entirely different purposes. I think that it could be actually more useful to choose some project and learn language with it - like write a webapp with php, then other webapp with django, then play with some AI in haskell, then your own simple shell in C etc. (maybe not best projects, but I think it makes much more sense that only familiarising with syntax).