Experiment with 'real-world' apps (Score 1)

I learned best by buying books and looking online. The other thing that really helps me is to try developing an actual app (or game). I HATE when you're in classes and they have you make these programs that really do nothing. Give him a practical idea to work towards and see if he can achieve it. Say for example you want him to write a [web] app that catalogs your music collection (just an example). I have played with many different languages so far and am still trying to find my "favorite." I'm a junior in college and know quite a bit I think for my age.