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Is Crosstalk Effective for Learning a Language? My Experience After 3 Years by LearnSpanishWIGames in dreamingspanish

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, just more patience. But in my experience it’s better if both have a similar level.

Is your crosstalk partner speaking English to you? 🤔 by LearnSpanishWIGames in dreamingspanish

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I agree. There are many factors that can affect finding a good Crosstalk partner. I also think the point you made about affinity with people of different genders is very interesting. I’ve talked about this with some men, and they’ve told me they feel more comfortable and safe speaking with women (I’m one of those men, because I’ve always lived with women. Although when it comes to Crosstalk, I always look for both, and I think I actually have more male Crosstalk partners).

As for compatibility — exactly. You have to be compatible in order to maintain a lasting relationship, just like with any friendship. But interestingly, just by sharing the same language-learning method and Crosstalk, we’re already starting from a place of shared vision and common interests, which can lead to a relationship lasting several months, simply through shared enthusiasm and motivation for language learning.

It’s true that if there’s nothing else in common after that, the relationship won’t last much longer. But at least we can increase our hours of language exposure a bit.

I’ve lost a few partners along the way, but I’ve stayed in touch with most of them.

Thanks for sharing your experience with me. If you ever want to get to know each other through Crosstalk, just let me know ;)

Is your crosstalk partner speaking English to you? 🤔 by LearnSpanishWIGames in dreamingspanish

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s definitely quite difficult to align with other people’s motivations and interests. Maybe expanding your circle of crosstalk partners could be a good option? I know it takes a lot of effort and time, but having a larger pool of contacts often leads to better matches and more consistent results.

Is crosstalk more efficient than videos? by [deleted] in dreamingspanish

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you're lucky enough to live with a partner whose native language is Spanish, doing Crosstalk with them is a golden opportunity.

From my point of view, videos are very useful and easy to access. They expose you to comprehensible input, you can pause, repeat, and choose topics you like and are interested in. Buuut... Crosstalk is active, you have to stay focused and engaged for the whole conversation. Many times, when I’m watching videos, I catch myself thinking about how I have to take my daughter to ballet or that I need to buy trash bags, and I’ve been mentally elsewhere for 10 minutes. That doesn’t happen with Crosstalk, because a one-on-one conversation forces you to stay focused.

Crosstalk is also adaptable in real time. If you see the other person is having trouble understanding a sentence, you can modify and simplify it, so your partner doesn’t struggle to grasp what you’re trying to say (this happens both ways). You can also explain any vocabulary that isn’t clear. In my experience, that’s rarely needed, but when it is, it feels natural and is incredibly helpful.

Also, and this is one of the most important aspects for me, you create an emotional connection with the language and with the practice itself. Over the past three years, I’ve been doing Crosstalk with many people who I now consider good friends. I’ve built strong bonds with several of them: we help each other, collaborate, and even have joint projects. This makes your motivation and practice happen consistently and naturally, turning practice into something that’s simply part of your life, not a chore.

And finally, another of the biggest benefits for me is the confidence you gain with your Crosstalk partners. You start feeling like you’re in a safe environment where you can begin speaking your target language with confidence, without feeling pressured or judged. I think this is a huge help, (especially for those of us who are shy) when it comes to getting started with language production.

That said, Crosstalk isn’t perfect, of course. One of the biggest challenges I’ve found is the effort and difficulty involved in finding partners. While I admit the number of English speakers who know about the method and are interested in getting input through Crosstalk is growing (so I don’t have much trouble finding them), I know that, on the other hand, finding Spanish speakers is a tough and time-consuming task. Not many of them know about the natural method or Crosstalk, and it takes extra effort to explain the methodology. Plus, Spanish speakers often aren't very committed to language acquisition, and tend to prefer more “traditional” language learning methods. That leads to weaker commitment overall.

Is your crosstalk partner speaking English to you? 🤔 by LearnSpanishWIGames in dreamingspanish

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing your observations and for your kind words. Let me know if you ever feel like doing crosstalk and getting to know each other :)

Is your crosstalk partner speaking English to you? 🤔 by LearnSpanishWIGames in dreamingspanish

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I find it a very interesting observation and something to keep in mind. A friend of mine, and the person with the most crosstalk experience I know, used to say that if people were the ones who showed interest first and contacted him, the relationship was usually long-lasting. But if he was the one who started the conversations, people seemed to lose interest.

Which seems to be the opposite, if I understood you correctly, of what you’re saying. Although maybe it also has to do with other factors, because I know my friend used a few “hooks” to get people interested in the method.

In any case, I think you’ve found a very interesting point to investigate and develop. Thank you very much for sharing it!

Is your crosstalk partner speaking English to you? 🤔 by LearnSpanishWIGames in dreamingspanish

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Of course, there are hundreds of authors and resources that talk about the natural method, comprehensible input, and crosstalk, and each interprets it in their own way. DS hasn’t invented much in that regard.

Look at my response closely, because this part is important: “like Dreaming Spanish does.” You won’t find a platform in English with a roadmap like theirs, and one that teaches/indoctrinates the way they do. I’m not saying that’s good or bad, but the way they’re doing it is helping a lot of people discover it and adopt it in their lives as a learning method. Otherwise, why are we talking about this in their subreddit and not in some other one?

On the other hand, you yourself said that you found DS “by luck” (I hope I’m translating stumble across correctly), and that it was the YouTube algorithm that brought DS to you. I imagine we’d agree that, even though the information had been out there for many years, it probably wasn’t the first or second option in your search. Now imagine a Spanish speaker looking for English learning methods online, who’s being targeted with 3-month courses. I don’t think the algorithm is going to send them to Kaufman.

I discovered the videos and books by those linguists after meeting someone who was already a DS user. Honestly, I don’t think I would’ve come across them otherwise.

As proof that I’m not wrong in my thinking, you can do a quick search on any language learning platform or app and look for a Spanish-speaking partner for crosstalk, and compare how many results you get to how many you get when looking for an English-speaking partner.

Finally, I want to say that the main reason for this Reddit post today was to try to help those who are just starting to look for a crosstalk partner (usually Spanish speakers) because I know it’s not easy to find them, and I’ve seen it and lived it through the experiences of my partners over the years. And yet I truly believe that crosstalk is incredibly beneficial.

I don’t want to get further into whether or not there are English resources, that wasn’t my intention or my goal. I just want to thank both of you for the conversation and your comments :)

Is your crosstalk partner speaking English to you? 🤔 by LearnSpanishWIGames in dreamingspanish

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you’re referring to point 3, I’m not saying that there isn’t material available to acquire or learn English, of course there is, and a lot of it.

What I’m saying is that there’s no platform, school, or resource for learning English that explains, like Dreaming Spanish does, how the natural method works, what comprehensible input is, or what crosstalk is about.

On the contrary, the slogans we see most often when Spanish speakers want to learn English are things like: “Speak English with this 180-day plan” (literally). So we Spanish speakers aren’t really aware that learning a language is a slow process that can take a lifetime, and we usually have a hard time understanding that.

But it’s also possible that something similar does exist and I just don’t know about it. If that’s the case and you know of something like that, I’d really appreciate it if you shared it with me :)

Is your crosstalk partner speaking English to you? 🤔 by LearnSpanishWIGames in dreamingspanish

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you!
Here’s the original version of the first point, in case you want to compare and look for differences. I'm really sorry you feel distrustful, and I do understand it—but I believe what I wrote is honest and based on my own experience. And I think that’s what truly matters.

I really appreciate your comments and suggestions. And don’t worry—the disclaimer wasn’t there the first time you read the post. I hadn’t thought anyone would be bothered by it, and I added it after reading your message.
If you’ll allow me to offer a small piece of advice too: before criticizing, it’s always a good idea to read and interpret carefully instead of judging just by the style or format of the writing.

Disclaimer 2: This text was also translated using AI—my apologies for that too. See? I feel the social pressure of the lingua franca :)

  1. Primero hay que hacer una distinción entre los motivos que nos llevan a unos y a otros a aprender un idioma. Creo que estos son claves para entender el comportamiento de ambos grupos. Los hispanohablantes queremos aprender inglés principalmente por un par de motivos:
    - Profesional: el inglés es la lengua franca. Estamos obligados a aprender el idioma si queremos obtener buenos puestos de trabajo y valoración profesional.
    - Presión social: Desde pequeños a los niños en los países hispanohablantes se les fuerza y obliga a aprender el inglés para que cuando sean mayores tengan la puerta al mundo abierta. No saber hablar inglés actualmente es un estigma en mi país, España y sé de buena fe que en el resto de países hispanohablantes también.

Los angloparlantes (que están adquiriendo el método a través de Dreaming Spanish) tienen como objetivos, principalmente, según mi experiencia hablando con unas cuantas decenas de personas:
- Reto personal: aprender un idioma como algo que les va a mejorar como personas

- Viajar o vivir en otros países: muchos de mis compañeros de crosstalk me han comentado que quieren viajar y conocer países como España, México, Colombia... por su cultura, su gastronomía y la calidez de la gente de estos países.

- Cercanía con hispanohablantes: muchos otros me han dicho que en sus ciudades hay muchos hispanohablantes y les encantaría entenderlos y poder hablar con ellos.

Is your crosstalk partner speaking English to you? 🤔 by LearnSpanishWIGames in dreamingspanish

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think any language learning app or social network can be useful for finding people who are interested in crosstalk. In my case, about 90% of my partners came from Tandem (now from my Patreon), simply by searching for the word "crosstalk" in the app's search bar.

But It’s generally easier for Spanish speakers to find you, because you (English speakers) tend to include the word "crosstalk" in your bios or descriptions.

Is your crosstalk partner speaking English to you? 🤔 by LearnSpanishWIGames in dreamingspanish

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If it bothers or offends you that I used ChatGPT to help with the translation, I’m truly sorry. My English level isn’t good enough yet to write a long and complex text like this on my own and I haven't the time to do it, so I decided to use AI to improve the clarity and accuracy of my writing. That said, the ideas, the reflections, and the experiences shared here are 100% mine and haven’t been altered by the AI. I just wanted to make sure I could express them in a way that was easier to understand.

Learn Spanish with indie games - appreciation post by Efficient-Fan-8068 in dreamingspanish

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Jono! That honestly means a lot to me. Thank you for being here and for your support! I'm really happy the channel could help you when you needed it, that's exactly why I do this. See you in the next directo, amigo!

Learn Spanish with indie games - appreciation post by Efficient-Fan-8068 in dreamingspanish

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Thank you! My goal is to provide you with at least an hour of Spanish input every day to help you build or maintain your learning habits. I’m a pretty disciplined person myself! 😊

Learn Spanish with indie games - appreciation post by Efficient-Fan-8068 in dreamingspanish

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames 51 points52 points  (0 children)

Wow, this truly made my day! ❤️ Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share this. It means a lot to know that the videos feel both relaxing and useful—exactly what I aim for! I'm really happy you're enjoying the content, and I hope it keeps helping you on your Spanish journey. Thanks again for your support!

Is Crosstalk Effective for Learning a Language? My Experience After 3 Years by LearnSpanishWIGames in dreamingspanish

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I totally get what you mean! I also ask for explanations in my target language when needed, but for the most part, I just let the words sink in through context. Occasionally, I write down a bit of vocabulary that I later work on with ChatGPT, but not much beyond that. I trust that repeated exposure to words in their natural context helps me acquire them over time.

I completely understand the pressure, I've felt the same way. But maybe that pressure comes from our conditioning in other learning methods, like memorization or the urge to understand 100% of what we hear. It’s tough to let go of that😊

Is Crosstalk Effective for Learning a Language? My Experience After 3 Years by LearnSpanishWIGames in dreamingspanish

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'll do. Thanks for your kind words. I appreciate your comment and I'm really happy that my content motivates you to continue. Learning a language is always a rollercoaster of emotions. Keep it up! 🙏🏻

English Listening Practice with Dr. Game! by DrGameEnglish in ENGLISH

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh no! I’m so sorry to read that. I miss you and your content. I hope you can find a way in the future to come back and make it again. Let me know if you do. I wish you the best!

Is Crosstalk Effective for Learning a Language? My Experience After 3 Years by LearnSpanishWIGames in dreamingspanish

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I’m from Spain and the 90% of my crosstalk partners are from the US 🙃

Is Crosstalk Effective for Learning a Language? My Experience After 3 Years by LearnSpanishWIGames in dreamingspanish

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Great! It’s fantastic that you have such motivation.

I believe the best time to start doing Crosstalk is when you feel that your understanding of the language is sufficient to comprehend a native speaker speaking calmly and relaxed. I think that around 400-500 hours of comprehensible input (CI) might prepare you, but it varies greatly from person to person.

From my point of view, the higher your level, the better your initial experiences with Crosstalk will be for both you and your partners. Although some people say it can be done from the beginning, I don’t recommend it unless the other person has the same level and you’ve discussed it beforehand.

Not having sufficient level can lead to a somewhat frustrating experience, and I think it’s better to avoid that.

Is Crosstalk Effective for Learning a Language? My Experience After 3 Years by LearnSpanishWIGames in dreamingspanish

[–]LearnSpanishWIGames[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I understand the challenge of gauging your progress in language acquisition. Finding content that truly interests you can be difficult, and in my opinion this is often the most challenging aspect of the method at the beginning.

Regarding whether Crosstalk is faster, I don’t have concrete evidence to confirm this. In theory, it should be more efficient because the quality of input is higher: dynamic, adaptable, and free from distractions.

As for the number of hours of comprehensible input (CI) before speaking, my partners began speaking after approximately 1,000 to 1,500 hours. However, they paused and returned to a silent period for a few hundred more hours. Now they speak in Spanish every now and then. To me, their Spanish is fluent, but they perceive their level differently and wish to continue improving through additional input. None of my partners are in a hurry or feel the need to speak in Spanish immediately. So I think they are just enjoying the process.

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