You’ll probably have to combine more than one approach at once if you want to learn to read and speak a language. I really like Pimsleur’s audio series for learning to speak a language. They have them available at the library for a few different languages, and they nearly always have Spanish. They’re very clear and easy to follow. The only downside is that I think they still don’t have them in MP3 format. For learning the very basics of grammar and things, I like Lonely Planet books. Some books have so much information that you just get lost, but this one is meant as a crash course/ travel guide. Lonely Planet gives a basic, but clear, introduction into grammar and vocabulary, and it’s pocket-sized so you can take it anywhere with you and learn a few words. It’s also interesting because there are random facts and trivia about the culture and language thrown in
It’s really tough to learn an entire language fast without being really dedicated to it. You should make a study group with your friends, and ask the Spanish teacher if you can borrow a copy of the textbook and follow along, or see if one is available in your bookstore. If you find ways to inject Spanish into a large part of your daily life, you’ll pick up lots of stuff almost through osmosis. You can pick up some words and phrases fast, but if you really want to become fluent, it will take a while.