TheChevra
As far as Chumash and Gemara goes, one can use an artscroll. It takes time to pick up “tietch” skills. Basically there are 2 ways to go about it, either one can use an artscroll and learn it inside with teh english and then review, (review is very very important for a beginner)
it a few times without the tietch. Work with a system. If you are doing chumash you can do a few pesukim a day with Rashi and with gemara a few lines with Rashi.
The bottom line is the person has to be serious about reviewing so that he starts remembering his learning and building his vocabulary.
Another approach thats harder but works a lot better is for one to use a regular Chumash or Gemara (get Oz Vehadar for Gemara or some other nice easy to read helpful Gemara), but get a good English Hebrew or Bible Hebrew dictionary and an Aramaic Hebrew English dictionary and as you go along, look up the words and write the translation with a lead pencil on top of the words. Chazara is important here as well, but the process of looking things up and writing them down helps you remember. After a while you will see that you start remembering more and more words.
Once familiar with the translation of Chumash Rashi it should be easier to move on to Rishonim and Acharonim.
Dont think this will happen overnight. However if you review everything a minimum of 4 times (really, for a beginner you should do it even more but absolute minimum is 4) you will see that you remember it and it will build your confidence. Once you know 20 Blatt Gemara with Rashi cold you should be able to learn most Gemaras on your own and should be fairly comfortable opening up a Rishon or Acharon.
Main thing is dont rush and expect it to happen too quickly, its really up to your level of commitment and and how much time and effort you put into it. Also did I mention do lots of Chazara?