James Demlow
@jdemlowdev.bsky.social
I give tips about Spanish and Language Learning
Spanish Idiom Wednesday!
“Irse por las ramas.”
Literally: “To go off through the branches.”
It means getting sidetracked, rambling, or avoiding the main point of a conversation.
“No te vayas por las ramas. Dime qué pasó.”
What do you say to express this idea?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
“Irse por las ramas.”
Literally: “To go off through the branches.”
It means getting sidetracked, rambling, or avoiding the main point of a conversation.
“No te vayas por las ramas. Dime qué pasó.”
What do you say to express this idea?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
September 23, 2026 at 9:36 PM
Spanish Idiom Wednesday!
“Irse por las ramas.”
Literally: “To go off through the branches.”
It means getting sidetracked, rambling, or avoiding the main point of a conversation.
“No te vayas por las ramas. Dime qué pasó.”
What do you say to express this idea?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
“Irse por las ramas.”
Literally: “To go off through the branches.”
It means getting sidetracked, rambling, or avoiding the main point of a conversation.
“No te vayas por las ramas. Dime qué pasó.”
What do you say to express this idea?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Spanish Resource Mondays!
This week:
Language Transfer’s Complete Spanish course. It teaches you to build Spanish by understanding patterns and connections instead of just memorizing. Very similar to the Michel Thomas Method
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
This week:
Language Transfer’s Complete Spanish course. It teaches you to build Spanish by understanding patterns and connections instead of just memorizing. Very similar to the Michel Thomas Method
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Complete Spanish - YouTube
Join the campaign to help us do more, faster! www.patreon.com/languagetransfer
youtube.com
September 21, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Spanish Resource Mondays!
This week:
Language Transfer’s Complete Spanish course. It teaches you to build Spanish by understanding patterns and connections instead of just memorizing. Very similar to the Michel Thomas Method
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
This week:
Language Transfer’s Complete Spanish course. It teaches you to build Spanish by understanding patterns and connections instead of just memorizing. Very similar to the Michel Thomas Method
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Spanish Idiom Wednesday!
“Hacer la vista gorda.”
Literally: “To make the thick/fat sight.”
It means deliberately ignoring something you know is happening, similar to “turning a blind eye” in English.
“El jefe sabía lo que pasaba, pero hizo la vista gorda.”
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
“Hacer la vista gorda.”
Literally: “To make the thick/fat sight.”
It means deliberately ignoring something you know is happening, similar to “turning a blind eye” in English.
“El jefe sabía lo que pasaba, pero hizo la vista gorda.”
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
September 16, 2026 at 10:19 PM
Spanish Idiom Wednesday!
“Hacer la vista gorda.”
Literally: “To make the thick/fat sight.”
It means deliberately ignoring something you know is happening, similar to “turning a blind eye” in English.
“El jefe sabía lo que pasaba, pero hizo la vista gorda.”
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
“Hacer la vista gorda.”
Literally: “To make the thick/fat sight.”
It means deliberately ignoring something you know is happening, similar to “turning a blind eye” in English.
“El jefe sabía lo que pasaba, pero hizo la vista gorda.”
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Spanish Trivia Tuesdays!
Spanish often reshapes English loanwords to fit its own sounds and spelling:
football = fútbol
leader = líder
beefsteak = bistec
home run = jonrón
whiskey = güisqui
standard = estándar
What are some loan words you use in every day speech?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Spanish often reshapes English loanwords to fit its own sounds and spelling:
football = fútbol
leader = líder
beefsteak = bistec
home run = jonrón
whiskey = güisqui
standard = estándar
What are some loan words you use in every day speech?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
September 15, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Spanish Trivia Tuesdays!
Spanish often reshapes English loanwords to fit its own sounds and spelling:
football = fútbol
leader = líder
beefsteak = bistec
home run = jonrón
whiskey = güisqui
standard = estándar
What are some loan words you use in every day speech?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Spanish often reshapes English loanwords to fit its own sounds and spelling:
football = fútbol
leader = líder
beefsteak = bistec
home run = jonrón
whiskey = güisqui
standard = estándar
What are some loan words you use in every day speech?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Spanish Resource Mondays!
My preferred app for casual language exchanges is still HelloTalk.
You can text, call, or join group voice rooms for your target language. There’s also a wall for posting and following.
Have you tried it?
apps.apple.com/us/app/hello...
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
My preferred app for casual language exchanges is still HelloTalk.
You can text, call, or join group voice rooms for your target language. There’s also a wall for posting and following.
Have you tried it?
apps.apple.com/us/app/hello...
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
HelloTalk - Language Learning App - App Store
Download HelloTalk - Language Learning by HELLOTALK FOREIGN LANGUAGE EXCHANGE LEARNING TALK CHAT APP on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews,…
apps.apple.com
September 14, 2026 at 9:36 PM
Spanish Resource Mondays!
My preferred app for casual language exchanges is still HelloTalk.
You can text, call, or join group voice rooms for your target language. There’s also a wall for posting and following.
Have you tried it?
apps.apple.com/us/app/hello...
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
My preferred app for casual language exchanges is still HelloTalk.
You can text, call, or join group voice rooms for your target language. There’s also a wall for posting and following.
Have you tried it?
apps.apple.com/us/app/hello...
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
In today's English class, we're going to conjugate the verb "to eat" in the past:
I ate
you ate
he, she it ate
we ate
you guys ate
they ate
Wait a sec... ok. When I said "conjugate" I meant we're gonna learn the word "ate" I guess.
Well, let's do the imperfect past next. Oh...
#languagelearning
I ate
you ate
he, she it ate
we ate
you guys ate
they ate
Wait a sec... ok. When I said "conjugate" I meant we're gonna learn the word "ate" I guess.
Well, let's do the imperfect past next. Oh...
#languagelearning
September 12, 2026 at 2:08 AM
In today's English class, we're going to conjugate the verb "to eat" in the past:
I ate
you ate
he, she it ate
we ate
you guys ate
they ate
Wait a sec... ok. When I said "conjugate" I meant we're gonna learn the word "ate" I guess.
Well, let's do the imperfect past next. Oh...
#languagelearning
I ate
you ate
he, she it ate
we ate
you guys ate
they ate
Wait a sec... ok. When I said "conjugate" I meant we're gonna learn the word "ate" I guess.
Well, let's do the imperfect past next. Oh...
#languagelearning
Language Lessons Learned Thursdays!
Future ≠ automatically subjunctive.
For a future event that hasn’t happened yet:
“Cuando llegue a casa, te llamo.”
But for a habit:
“Cuando llego a casa, ceno.”
Pending future = subjunctive
Habit/fact = indicative
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Future ≠ automatically subjunctive.
For a future event that hasn’t happened yet:
“Cuando llegue a casa, te llamo.”
But for a habit:
“Cuando llego a casa, ceno.”
Pending future = subjunctive
Habit/fact = indicative
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
September 11, 2026 at 2:08 AM
Language Lessons Learned Thursdays!
Future ≠ automatically subjunctive.
For a future event that hasn’t happened yet:
“Cuando llegue a casa, te llamo.”
But for a habit:
“Cuando llego a casa, ceno.”
Pending future = subjunctive
Habit/fact = indicative
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Future ≠ automatically subjunctive.
For a future event that hasn’t happened yet:
“Cuando llegue a casa, te llamo.”
But for a habit:
“Cuando llego a casa, ceno.”
Pending future = subjunctive
Habit/fact = indicative
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Spanish Idiom Wednesday!
“Meter la pata.”
Literally: “To put the paw/leg in.”
It’s used when someone makes a mistake, screws something up, or says something they shouldn’t have.
“Creo que metí la pata cuando le pregunté por su ex.”
Have you used this?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
“Meter la pata.”
Literally: “To put the paw/leg in.”
It’s used when someone makes a mistake, screws something up, or says something they shouldn’t have.
“Creo que metí la pata cuando le pregunté por su ex.”
Have you used this?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
September 10, 2026 at 3:23 AM
Spanish Idiom Wednesday!
“Meter la pata.”
Literally: “To put the paw/leg in.”
It’s used when someone makes a mistake, screws something up, or says something they shouldn’t have.
“Creo que metí la pata cuando le pregunté por su ex.”
Have you used this?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
“Meter la pata.”
Literally: “To put the paw/leg in.”
It’s used when someone makes a mistake, screws something up, or says something they shouldn’t have.
“Creo que metí la pata cuando le pregunté por su ex.”
Have you used this?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Spanish Trivia Tuesdays!
The upside down ¿ and ¡ are relatively new. The RAE promoted them in the 1700s so readers could tell from the start that a phrase was a question or exclamation
Even someone like Cervantes wrote before modern ¿...? became standard
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
The upside down ¿ and ¡ are relatively new. The RAE promoted them in the 1700s so readers could tell from the start that a phrase was a question or exclamation
Even someone like Cervantes wrote before modern ¿...? became standard
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
September 8, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Spanish Trivia Tuesdays!
The upside down ¿ and ¡ are relatively new. The RAE promoted them in the 1700s so readers could tell from the start that a phrase was a question or exclamation
Even someone like Cervantes wrote before modern ¿...? became standard
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
The upside down ¿ and ¡ are relatively new. The RAE promoted them in the 1700s so readers could tell from the start that a phrase was a question or exclamation
Even someone like Cervantes wrote before modern ¿...? became standard
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Spanish Resource Mondays!
A great channel from Spain I follow is “ItsMoura”. I watch her play video games in Spanish and talk about it while she’s playing.
Great in the background, but also flys by. I get hours of input this way.
youtube.com/@itsmoura?si...
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
A great channel from Spain I follow is “ItsMoura”. I watch her play video games in Spanish and talk about it while she’s playing.
Great in the background, but also flys by. I get hours of input this way.
youtube.com/@itsmoura?si...
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
ItsMoura
Buenas! Mi nombre es Mila, pero puedes llamarme Moura.
Aquí encontraréis gameplays de juegos de historia, sagas y singleplayers que en general no he tenido la oportunidad de jugar todavía.
Adoro los ...
youtube.com
September 7, 2026 at 11:44 PM
Spanish Resource Mondays!
A great channel from Spain I follow is “ItsMoura”. I watch her play video games in Spanish and talk about it while she’s playing.
Great in the background, but also flys by. I get hours of input this way.
youtube.com/@itsmoura?si...
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
A great channel from Spain I follow is “ItsMoura”. I watch her play video games in Spanish and talk about it while she’s playing.
Great in the background, but also flys by. I get hours of input this way.
youtube.com/@itsmoura?si...
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Spanish Idiom Wednesday!
“No tener pelos en la lengua.”
“To have no hairs on your tongue.”
Describes someone who says exactly what they think without holding back.
“Mi hermana no tiene pelos en la lengua.”
Would you say this in your every day speech? Why or why not?
#Spanish
#LanguageLearning
“No tener pelos en la lengua.”
“To have no hairs on your tongue.”
Describes someone who says exactly what they think without holding back.
“Mi hermana no tiene pelos en la lengua.”
Would you say this in your every day speech? Why or why not?
#Spanish
#LanguageLearning
September 2, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Spanish Idiom Wednesday!
“No tener pelos en la lengua.”
“To have no hairs on your tongue.”
Describes someone who says exactly what they think without holding back.
“Mi hermana no tiene pelos en la lengua.”
Would you say this in your every day speech? Why or why not?
#Spanish
#LanguageLearning
“No tener pelos en la lengua.”
“To have no hairs on your tongue.”
Describes someone who says exactly what they think without holding back.
“Mi hermana no tiene pelos en la lengua.”
Would you say this in your every day speech? Why or why not?
#Spanish
#LanguageLearning
What’s your preferred method to memorize vocabulary in a foreign language?
Flashcards?
Good list method?
Memory palace?
Nemonic associations?
Memorize speeches?
Reading books?
Rewatching the same season of tv 10 times?
Or something else?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Flashcards?
Good list method?
Memory palace?
Nemonic associations?
Memorize speeches?
Reading books?
Rewatching the same season of tv 10 times?
Or something else?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
September 2, 2026 at 12:42 AM
What’s your preferred method to memorize vocabulary in a foreign language?
Flashcards?
Good list method?
Memory palace?
Nemonic associations?
Memorize speeches?
Reading books?
Rewatching the same season of tv 10 times?
Or something else?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Flashcards?
Good list method?
Memory palace?
Nemonic associations?
Memorize speeches?
Reading books?
Rewatching the same season of tv 10 times?
Or something else?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Spanish Trivia Tuesdays!
Roughly 8% of Spanish vocabulary is estimated to come from Arabic
aceite → az-zayt
azúcar → as-sukkar
arroz → ar-ruzz
almohada → al-mukhádda
ojalá → in shā’ Allāh
Many words begin with “al-” to reflect the definite article
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Roughly 8% of Spanish vocabulary is estimated to come from Arabic
aceite → az-zayt
azúcar → as-sukkar
arroz → ar-ruzz
almohada → al-mukhádda
ojalá → in shā’ Allāh
Many words begin with “al-” to reflect the definite article
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
September 1, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Spanish Trivia Tuesdays!
Roughly 8% of Spanish vocabulary is estimated to come from Arabic
aceite → az-zayt
azúcar → as-sukkar
arroz → ar-ruzz
almohada → al-mukhádda
ojalá → in shā’ Allāh
Many words begin with “al-” to reflect the definite article
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Roughly 8% of Spanish vocabulary is estimated to come from Arabic
aceite → az-zayt
azúcar → as-sukkar
arroz → ar-ruzz
almohada → al-mukhádda
ojalá → in shā’ Allāh
Many words begin with “al-” to reflect the definite article
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Spanish Resource Mondays!
This week, I chose a resource from Spain since I usually focus on Spanish from Latin America:
Linguriosa is a fabulous channel that focuses on the Spanish language and other languages as well
youtube.com/@linguriosa?...
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
This week, I chose a resource from Spain since I usually focus on Spanish from Latin America:
Linguriosa is a fabulous channel that focuses on the Spanish language and other languages as well
youtube.com/@linguriosa?...
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Linguriosa
🦖Canal para los pedantes del español.
youtube.com
August 31, 2026 at 11:36 PM
Spanish Resource Mondays!
This week, I chose a resource from Spain since I usually focus on Spanish from Latin America:
Linguriosa is a fabulous channel that focuses on the Spanish language and other languages as well
youtube.com/@linguriosa?...
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
This week, I chose a resource from Spain since I usually focus on Spanish from Latin America:
Linguriosa is a fabulous channel that focuses on the Spanish language and other languages as well
youtube.com/@linguriosa?...
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Great video from Language Jones that’s relevant to a recent post of mine on learning languages in a “school” setting
youtu.be/STYcCNcs_vo?...
youtu.be/STYcCNcs_vo?...
Is College Language Learning Backed by Science?
YouTube video by languagejones
youtu.be
August 28, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Great video from Language Jones that’s relevant to a recent post of mine on learning languages in a “school” setting
youtu.be/STYcCNcs_vo?...
youtu.be/STYcCNcs_vo?...
Spanish Idiom Wednesday!
“Poner el dedo en la llaga.”
Literally: “To put your finger in the wound.”
It’s used when someone brings up an issue that’s painful, sensitive, or uncomfortable.
Similar to “hitting a nerve” in English.
Do you or people you know use it?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
“Poner el dedo en la llaga.”
Literally: “To put your finger in the wound.”
It’s used when someone brings up an issue that’s painful, sensitive, or uncomfortable.
Similar to “hitting a nerve” in English.
Do you or people you know use it?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
August 27, 2026 at 1:17 AM
Spanish Idiom Wednesday!
“Poner el dedo en la llaga.”
Literally: “To put your finger in the wound.”
It’s used when someone brings up an issue that’s painful, sensitive, or uncomfortable.
Similar to “hitting a nerve” in English.
Do you or people you know use it?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
“Poner el dedo en la llaga.”
Literally: “To put your finger in the wound.”
It’s used when someone brings up an issue that’s painful, sensitive, or uncomfortable.
Similar to “hitting a nerve” in English.
Do you or people you know use it?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
I have never in my life met someone who learned a language to fluency in school, but used little to no other resources outside of classes.
In fact, I would say that when someone is taking classes in high school/college, they could learn faster if they just skipped class and studied on their own.
In fact, I would say that when someone is taking classes in high school/college, they could learn faster if they just skipped class and studied on their own.
August 25, 2026 at 1:19 AM
I have never in my life met someone who learned a language to fluency in school, but used little to no other resources outside of classes.
In fact, I would say that when someone is taking classes in high school/college, they could learn faster if they just skipped class and studied on their own.
In fact, I would say that when someone is taking classes in high school/college, they could learn faster if they just skipped class and studied on their own.
Spanish Resource Mondays!
Ruido Social, Eva Maria Beristain.
I really like these videos because she conducts street interviews with lots of different people on a wide variety of topics. Great if your focus is on Mexican Spanish
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
youtu.be/xglPpT9BieY?...
Ruido Social, Eva Maria Beristain.
I really like these videos because she conducts street interviews with lots of different people on a wide variety of topics. Great if your focus is on Mexican Spanish
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
youtu.be/xglPpT9BieY?...
ASI LOS RICOS SE QUEDAN CON TU COLONIA - Ruido Social
YouTube video by Eva Maria Beristain
youtu.be
August 24, 2026 at 11:10 PM
Spanish Resource Mondays!
Ruido Social, Eva Maria Beristain.
I really like these videos because she conducts street interviews with lots of different people on a wide variety of topics. Great if your focus is on Mexican Spanish
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
youtu.be/xglPpT9BieY?...
Ruido Social, Eva Maria Beristain.
I really like these videos because she conducts street interviews with lots of different people on a wide variety of topics. Great if your focus is on Mexican Spanish
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
youtu.be/xglPpT9BieY?...
How many hours per week do you study foreign languages?
Maybe a better question, do you bother to track your hours?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Maybe a better question, do you bother to track your hours?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
August 21, 2026 at 1:33 AM
How many hours per week do you study foreign languages?
Maybe a better question, do you bother to track your hours?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Maybe a better question, do you bother to track your hours?
#learnspanish
#languagelearning
Spanish Idiom Wednesday!
“Buscarle tres pies al gato.”
Literally: “To look for three feet on the cat.”
It’s used when someone overcomplicates something or looks for problems where there really aren’t any.
Do you or your friends say this?
#LearningSpanish
#LanguageLearning
“Buscarle tres pies al gato.”
Literally: “To look for three feet on the cat.”
It’s used when someone overcomplicates something or looks for problems where there really aren’t any.
Do you or your friends say this?
#LearningSpanish
#LanguageLearning
August 19, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Spanish Idiom Wednesday!
“Buscarle tres pies al gato.”
Literally: “To look for three feet on the cat.”
It’s used when someone overcomplicates something or looks for problems where there really aren’t any.
Do you or your friends say this?
#LearningSpanish
#LanguageLearning
“Buscarle tres pies al gato.”
Literally: “To look for three feet on the cat.”
It’s used when someone overcomplicates something or looks for problems where there really aren’t any.
Do you or your friends say this?
#LearningSpanish
#LanguageLearning
A thing I’ve been doing with my Spanish: asking AI to quiz me at an A1 level on a curriculum of verbs, prepositions, etc.
Finding any gaps in my knowledge and putting them in a separate chat for deep diving on each.
My confidence is really increasing after just a few days.
#learnspanish
Finding any gaps in my knowledge and putting them in a separate chat for deep diving on each.
My confidence is really increasing after just a few days.
#learnspanish
August 18, 2026 at 9:38 PM
A thing I’ve been doing with my Spanish: asking AI to quiz me at an A1 level on a curriculum of verbs, prepositions, etc.
Finding any gaps in my knowledge and putting them in a separate chat for deep diving on each.
My confidence is really increasing after just a few days.
#learnspanish
Finding any gaps in my knowledge and putting them in a separate chat for deep diving on each.
My confidence is really increasing after just a few days.
#learnspanish
August 18, 2026 at 6:13 PM
What’s your method that you’re using to learn languages that isn’t working for you?
#languagelearning
#languagelearning
August 17, 2026 at 11:40 PM
What’s your method that you’re using to learn languages that isn’t working for you?
#languagelearning
#languagelearning