1. Have something you need to code. 2. Pick a small part of it you need to implement. 3. Google[insert favorite search engine] for code in your language that

1. Have something you need to code. 2. Pick a small part of it you need to implement. 3. Google[insert favorite search engine] for code in your language that does kinda what you need. 4. Move the code around until you get what you need done/working. 5. Repeat 2-4 until you have done your project. 6 Repeat 1-5 on three projects. 7. Read blog articles about how to write properly in that language. This is basically the formula I used since childhood. The other way around of learning syntax is too boring and tedious. Starting out with projects means at the end of the process you have something to show, and the syntax has contextual clues for easier memorization. Additionally, you incorporate other people's programming habits that took years to develop[you wouldn't get all, but you would get some] .