Who uses or has used Skype on a regular basis?
Please do not say what is your Skype user name. My idea is just for to know the potential use of teleconferencing through that medium.
Can you comment how was your experience when using Skype?
Would you like to use this medium and the formation of a group of members of SpanishDict to practice?
More information about Skype, here
21 Answers
I use skype quite often to communicate with my friends in other countries or even in the same city. The sound quality is fantastic, much better than ventrilo. Skype is basically like talking on a telephone only with better sound quality and it does not cost anything.
Another thing that could really help people conferencing to learn Spanish is that there is a "share screen" option. Basically I can click a buttton that allows the other person/s to see exactly what I see on my computer screen. You can either show part of what is on your screen or all of what is on your screen. So if I was working with something on my screen and I felt like I just could not explain it well, I could simply hit a button and allow the other person to see exactly what I am doing.
Last thing I can think of that would be helpful is that you can easily share links, files, or type in a chat box while talking in skype. For example, if someone was talking and I did not want to intterupt them, I could type what I needed to say.
Skype is very easy to download and very user friendly. Even if someone had never heard of it, they could have it up and running probably in about 5 minutes or less. If someone wants to use skype to practice Spanish I am defintily looking forward to that and I would join in a heartbeat.
I've never used it before, but I've heard enough about it to say that I would be interested in using it as a tool for learning Spanish.
Something else to consider besides skype is Ventrilo. I love skype but it is really only good for very small groups. It would also be more difficult for people to meet at the same time with skype because of time differences.
The best way to explain Ventrilo is that it is like a house with rooms. People can enter or leave the house, but the house is always there. Inside ventrilo there are different rooms.
We could label each one of the rooms like "beginner conversation," "intermediate conversation," and "advanced conversation." People would be able to join and leave these rooms (channels) whenever they wanted. This would help with time zones because anyone could join or leave at any time.
If we wanted we could pick specific topics for each day or week and then adjust them for each level. This will be difficult because there are so many time zones but maybe we could have 3 meetings lead by 3 different people to accomodate more time differences.
Basically skype is wonderful but it limits who and how many people could join at one time. Ventrilo on the other hand would allow many more people to join.
If someone else could explain Ventrilo better that would be fantastic. It is very difficult to explain to someone who has never used it.
Skype is best for 1 on 1 tutoring. Ventrilo is best for groups that want to practice conversation.
I use Skype frequently to talk face-to-face with my family. It's easy, fun, free, and reliable.
Using Skype here is an excellent idea. I'm all for it!
Abuelita y yo usamos Skype con mucha frecuencia. Es nuestra manera de mantener contacto con la familia en los estados unidos. Pagamos un poquito menos que cuatro dolares mensualment para poder llamar a teléfonos y para poder recibir llamadas de teléfonos. Por supuesto, no cuesta nada tener acceso a conexiones de computador a computador. La calidad está exelente. No sé usar Skype para teleconferencia. Si hay una manera de hacer esto, me gustaría saberlo.
CalvoViejo
I have used Skype many times, but only with friends who are living in or visiting other countries.
The most memorable use was a few months ago. Our close friends were picking up their newly adopted child in the Philippines. We were watching their other three children at our home while their parents were away.
It was a very emotional moment when after years of waiting, we were all able to gather around the laptop at our kitchen table and meet this cute little guy, live from Manilla for the first time! It was almost as if we were in the same room together. Fasinating! 
In my opinion Skype is one of the best things ever to come to the internet.
It is very easy to use - costs nothing - and always runs when other things stop.
I recommend it very highly.
Good luck to the guys who sold it to eBay for $3000,000,000 
i use skype quite often. it works very well. Actually my cousin tutors me in Spanish over Skype. It helps a lot when you can see the teacher and such and basically show them what your material is. I think that if this forum used skype it would be very helpful for some people who are struggling and it would give more indepth advice for anyone who wanted it. Skype is an extremely safe thing and works very well!
Not to mention almost everyone can get Skype on their desktop and/or laptops as long as they have a web cam. web cams are very inexpenisive things to purchace also.
What is the main difference between skype and msn???? I have both and to me they do the same thing!! You can talk on both and type on both!! Is there anything else that i have missed???
I use Skype while I'm away at university. It works, but there seems to be a lag between when I say something and when they hear it on the other end (and we aren't even that far apart). There is also a sound problem, but it's probably my computer.
MSN is better if you just want to talk.
I've got it but never used it. I think I'd be interested in doing a teleconference...if such can be coordinated.
I have used Skype for a few years. Mostly as an IM, but on occasion to speak with people in other countries (skype to skype). there is always a potiental for lag, espceially when internet speeds are less than ideal. I have also used it to call home when traveling overseas, in my cases it has been a cheaper to call home.
I used Skype for about 2 years. I only use it to call my family overseas. I like it because I can contact them easily for a very cheap price.
I have it. I've only talked to one other person with it but we've talked several times, the quality is excellent, and in my case the lag that others have mentioned hasn't been an issue. (And my friend is on another continent.)
I used Skype only once when I was visiting a friend in NY who is engaged to a girl in Mexico. (They talk daily while she is getting her papers in order.) It was okay. There was an obvious delay that took some getting used to, but you can get that talking on cell phones too.
I have used google video chat quite a few times, and in terms of quality it was about the same; great for a free service.
