I learned it by doing that long on a lesson each day. I started on AE 3.1 with the book that comes with the software, then upgraded to the Meyers book at 4.1, again at 5 with after effects in production and again with 5.5 with their latest CMG.
40-50 minutes a day is plenty to learn. In fact, it's the best way to learn because you sleep on what you've touched on that day.
9 weeks doesn't sound unreasonable at all. This isn't notepad...
After Effects in production is always described as being "advanced" but it's not if you do the books in order - CMG, AE in production, CMG 2. Even after the first CMG the student will have a darn good grasp of AE.
- mYthical
I learned by using VTC's online courses. 25 dollars a month and really simple to follow. They also sell CD's of the courses for 99.00
I also learned Photoshop and Illustrator that way, really easy to follow.
The meyer books are good...but I used the meyer books in my advanced after effects classes in college that i took last quarter. For my beginner classes I mainly used the tutorials from www.creativecow.net and the visual quickstart books. visual quickstart books are usuall priced under $30 and have basic step by step instructions.
hope that helps some!