Just make programms with all the stuff you learn to practise
there's been various thread about this. use search button, and read some of the replies. good luck with whichever language you choose.
C# is the language i would recommend
Well, to get started and warmed up I would start with VB.
I would recommend C# before C++. It is a lot easier than C++ and you get quick results. When you get familiar with C#, you can easily move on to C++. I wouldn't recommend VB.NET (Even though there's no difference in terms of functionality when compared to C#) because it has a completely different syntax compared to C series. So, learning C# will help you switch to many mainstream languages without any problem.
I would actually recommend diving right into C++. Visit your local bookstore and pick up these two books:
Or you can buy them on Amazon but I recommend new copies of them
I would recommend to learn C# First.
http:/www.learnvisualstudio.net
1.Visual C# 2010 Express Edition for Absolute Beginners
Start here! This series provides the aspiring C# developer a comprehensive experience with the language and concepts associated with the .NET Framework demonstrated with the latest FREE version of Visual Studio called Visual C# 2010 Express Edition.
By watching 21 hours of fun, personalized video lectures and the associated homework each day, you will have a firm grasp on the basics of both C# and creating SQL Server databases. The creative hands on exercises re-enforce the lessons learned each day.
Each day builds on the topics learned previously and will take someone with no programming knowledge at all to the point where they can build simple applications utilizing Object Oriented Programming principles with inheritance and polymorphism, understand a simple UML Class Diagram and implement that design in code, build normalized relational databases, and use T-SQL to query and update the data.
I recommend learning VB.net, its easy, and provides a nice foundation on which to build off of.
c++! Links to great beginner book below in my signature.