When it comes down to it, it doesn't matter how much experience you have before hand. You need to use something in order to gain experience with it.

One thing I notice is that unless I use something I just learned, I'm going to forget it. It is important to find practical uses for perl in order to get good at it initially. For example, write a web application of some sort, like a day timer or an mp3 database. Just do something with perl.

It's kind of like "If your only tool is a hammer, all your problems will look like nails." But until you understand your hammer, all your problems will look like glass beads.

If you want to learn perl, use it.