How to learn Kanji (Japanese letters); looking origin helps your understanding what the letter means.

In Japanese language, Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji are used. When you use Japanese language, it's necessary for you to be able to read (and write) them.
I think Kanji is especially difficult for non-Japanese people because it seems to be very complicated. Reading Kanji might be harder than just speaking Japanese.
Some ways of Kanji will be shown here.

 

We Japanese learn Kanji for 9 years from the age of 6 to 15 at elementary school and junior high school. We practice Kanji by writing repeatedly with using drills.

For non-Japanese people, the following ways are recommended. Actually, my friends who is non-Japanese but be able to read Kanji practiced them.
- Using app of smartphone for learning kanji.
- Reading Japanese Manga or book, and seeing Japanese program.
- Making Japanese friends and chatting. (if you want a Japanese friend, I'm here.)

In addition that, many Kanji have origin, so knowing the origin of that letter might help your understanding.

For example, "一", "二", "三" mean one, two, three, respectively. The number of line shows the meaning.

 

"上" means upside. It's because there are small two line upside long horizontal line.
In contrast, "下" means downside, it's because there are small two line downside long horizontal line.
"中" means center or inside. This shape express a flag planted in the camp.

Complicated Kanji consists of some parts. And each parts have meaning and regarding them helps you to understand what the letter means.

"I" is written "私" in Japanese.
This letter consists of the left side "禾" and right side "ム."
"禾" express grain with an ear. It's because "ノ" express hanging down the top of "木" which means tree.
"ム" express the shape of spade which is one of farm tools.
Then, "私" means person who plow field privately, and it turned the meaning of "I".

Similarly, "秋" means autumn and this letter consists of the left side "禾" and right side "火."
"火" express the shape of fire. 
Farmer set fire to prevent damage of grain from insects in autumn, harvest season.

Furthermore, "種" means seed and this letter consists of the left side "禾" and right side "重."
"重" means heavy.
The state of grain gets heavy because of heavy turns  "種" means seed.

And there are some Kanji which include "心."
"心" means heart or mind.

"思" means thinking and this letter consists of upside "田" and downside "心."
"田" means brain of child.
Connecting brain and heart turns the meaning of thinking.

"志" means ambition, this letter consists of upside "士" and downside "心."
"士" means track.
Then, the state of heart facing some direction or track express ambition.

In the other hand, "忘" means to forget and consists of upside "亡" and downside "心."
"亡" means to die.
The state of heart dying express forgetting.

As above, many complicated Kanji consists of some parts and each parts have meaning.
So looking and knowing the meaning of each parts helps you to understand what the letter means.
I hope you overcome obstacles of remembering Kanji.