If you wish to mellow your ear, as of now, to French, here's a wonderful show:
http://direct8.directmedia.fr/programmes/emissions/0/voyage-bout-nuit-40203.html
It airs around 3h-6h a.m., French time (GMT+1h). From this link, click on "VOIR LE DIRECT" (it means "watch the live broadcast"). You could do it at any hour, but sometimes, due to broadcasting rights, some shows are not sent through the Internet. At least, "Voyage au bout de la nuit" (it means "Journey till the end of the night", it refers to a very well know classic novel, by Louis-Ferdinand Céline) is always aired here.
Of course, you won't understand a thing for months... But it's funny!
In parallel to this, try to find a beginner's method, or at least a beginner's grammar of French. Besides this, your first aim should be around one thousand words of vocabulary.
Once you've completed this first step (a several months long task). Switch to buying an easy novel, a bilingual dictionary (not a huge one, a handy one!) and if you feel curious enough, a monolingual one so as to get used to its structure and hint whether your bilingual doesn't mislead you.
Then, it's about finding a balance between investing you enough in deciphering the novel (and improving your understanding of basic grammar ; a tip: use a little pad and write down the French words you'll look up, write down also information as plural form, gender, the idiom that used it in the book, or which pattern of conjugation is used if it's a verb, specific prepositions that would be needed for complements, and so on) and burning out because it can quickly become harrowing (I personally disadvise you to try to learn every word you're looking up as you try to decode the novel, prefer a vocabulary textbook to memorize vocabulary ; only when you've acquired the content of a textbook, should you find ways to learn vocab out of your readings)(I usually prefer doing this bit of work just after a meal, but it may be just me)(another tip: as long as you feel this everyday piece of work is a pleasure, you're on the right track, else slow down your pace).
A vocab book is welcome to help you target the most useful vocabulary to learn by heart, over and over. Here again, the time ahead of you and regularity are your friends, not the strength you can use to put words into your head despite the protests it will surely utter!
Along with this, seize any chance to utter sentences you could be able to produce with what you know, even to yourself, or to listen to some radio/TV material.
One quarter an hour per day (max), and you're bound to take off, even if slowly.
Of course a teacher is better, but if you had the chance, you wouldn't ask your question here, would you?
Suggestions for an easy novel: "La nuit des temps", by René Barjavel. or "Le lion", by Joseph Kessel. Both are picturesque and usually really please French teenagers.
I think Assimil Method is a good suggestion too, as your very first book&CDs. After that, for your first grammar & vocab books, check out for instance ISBN 978-2090337068 and ISBN 978-2090331387 (I could only find them yet on amazon.fr and amazon.ca).
Que la force soit avec toi !