Memories of skype chats
I have been hosting skype chats for maybe two years now, I can't even remember when they started
there are so many memories...some people you really get attached to, you talk with them every day and a bond sorta closes among some people that is hard to imagine among "virtual" friends.
I have hosted so many good chats. 
Some were for advanced speakers of Spanish and one of my golden moments was a chat about violence, when super star Joe, (you cannot imagine how superb his Spanish is
) was asked: So have you ever lost a fellow police-man buddy to crime ? And he answered: ALL policemen are my buddies
Some were for beginners, jeje, I just can't forget Ray saying...oh, no, no, no, not me the first, take somebody else...
, as if he were to be taken to the slaughterhouse, jejeje,
Another golden moment was quite recent actually, an intermediate chat, where so many members who could not say a word were classified as intermediate speakers and proved to do well, like Chris or lovely ON that chat the members had to buddy up with somebody to make a dialogue and at the end I asked for a group situation where they were all on a train and poor Chris could not find his ticket, and super bad boy Rikko was the supervisor and told him right there and then: get going, I don't have all that much time!! 
Julian was there...I still smile when I remember us rolling on the floor at that super moment
There have been some Spanish native speakers too, Vicente, Dakie, Julian, cogumela...their particpation was just awesome
I could talk and talk about so many members who have learnt how to talk this way and who , above all, have learnt how to overcome their fear to talk in public.
One of the best examples is probably cogumela, who just wouldn't say a single word at the beginning...she would just be there, never missing a chat, but never saying a word..too shy. Until we brought her out of her shell and I was happy to hear that she did really well on her advanced level exam which she passed with a very high mark
Some other members who I would not have thought could talk this well, Chris, others too shy, lovely, there are so many, I could go on and on...
However, if there is one I cannot but mention, that is my Jenny. The skype chats brought us together and through skype she learnt how to achieve an incredible level of proficiency, she can not only talk, her level of comprehension is above that of some people who have actually lived in a Spanish speaking country.
But it is the friendship that counts, she is always there and she has proven to be a friend above virtual level, just like Marianne, Chris and Gary for me these members are more than just skippi buddies Some of them are actually going to meet this next Christmas, and I don't think this would have come about if it had not been for the skype chats
Not all memories are good, I had to endure complaints , people stood me up, never saying a word why or a simple excuse, and last but not least, I was yelled at. ::.sigh:::
46 Answers
Thank you so much for all of these chats, Heidi . You have been an amazing friend and teacher to us all. It's such a shame that not everyone can appreciate the amount of work and dedication you put into these chats.
I had no idea what I would get out of them when I first joined, but not only have I improved in Spanish but I've made some incredible friends who pulled me through some bad times - you, Marianne and Gary especially. I think we'll be friends for life and I really don't consider us virtual friends 
. I love you all dearly .
Heidi, as much as l'm feeling really bad about this and that l was almost crying when l saw the post, as much as l'm shocked by the rudeness of those people who don't appreciate your wonderful effort trying to help them Heidi, you're simply amazing!
Thank you so so much for the wonderful time on the chats Heidi, l appreciate every single word you taught us, l had a really nice time, and l learnt a lot! when l first joined l was too shy to say ''hola'' and tell you the truth l didn't really start studying Spanish for real until l entered those chats, they helped me a lot, and it's ll thanks to you!
Not all memories are good, I had to endure complaints , people stood me up, never saying a word why or a simple excuse, and last but not least, I was yelled at. ::.sigh:::
Those who were rude enough to do so, simply aren't respectable enough to appreciate the help of their teacher (although she actually considers them as friends), you guys don't know but Heidi spends all her time with us trying to teach you!! with no charges & then you come and complain!!! you should be ashamed of yourselves!
Esta despedida me da muchísima pena, porque nunca había conseguido participar en cualquiera de los chats que todos habíais tenido. Heidi sabe cuántas veces me había invitado a que me uniera, pero por algunos motivos no pude. Bueno, ojalá algún día se haga el ánimo de planear uno y que por fin yo pueda.
Y a ese desagradecido que lo causó todo, "¡que te vayas a la miércoles!"
I missed all the great chats. It never worked out for me.
But I cannot remain silent on this topic. I understand how important live conversation is for acquiring language fluency. My message is this: As great as SpanishDict is, the single most advanced feature was Heidi's chats.
And SpanishDict didn't become great accidentally. The forum has a culture defined by the participation of many individuals, at least dozens of very regular participants. The moderators (especially Heidi) contribute heavily to defining that culture. If you think our wonderfully supportive learning culture here is due only to the members, you only have to recall the occasionally heated arguments that broke out from time to time (usually while Heidi was away!)...
Thank you, Heidi, for your dedication and optimistic influence at this website. Thank you for the extra effort you have consistently made here, and especially with the chat sessions. I cannot think of any teacher I have had or have known, that can overshadow your efforts and results. You simply have no peers.
Abrazos.
She was the best asset to the Skype/SD chats there ever was or will ever be.....
Darn right -- She was the creator of the SD chat and will be irreplaceable. Everyone who ever attended a chat came away with more knowledge of Spanish and a fun time.
.....someone who is giving up their own time to help us learn....
Let's see: She had to think up a topic, plan the chat agenda, post a thread with homework, check and update the thread several times, come home Saturday night instead of staying out with friends, and guide us through the entire chat...until 2 a.m. for, hmm, let's see...oh, for free. Yeah, that would qualify as a pretty generous person.
It is bad enough to be rude to a paid tutor but to be rude when you are giving up your own time in unbelievable....
Beyond "unbelievable".....downright sad.
As our teacher, and our friend, we love you, Heidi!
I wasn't going to say anything since I am ashamed to say, I never took part. 
But after hearing about how enjoyable they were, the friendships formed and how much was learned, wouldn't it be easier for everyone to collectively yell back (so to speak) at the offender or be rid of them.
Then everyone else could continue in partaking of the benefits of several years of learning and friendship. I can understand if Heidi is just burnt out and needs a break. I've been there in my life more than once.
However, since you have such a good thing going...
why let one person ruin it for everyone?
Sorry for poking my nose into something that is not my business, but I hate to see one rotten apple ruin the whole bunch.
I can only guess what happened to cause Heidita to quit organising the Skype chats. Must have been bad – what a shame.
Well well well... this is what I was afraid of .... Sunshine...is leaving Saturday Chat.....
I always say bad people are everywhere... But I never imagine or think that we can find them even in our Perfect "Saturday Chats"... What a Shame..
Heidita... Don't think negative... and think about the good people and who appreciate you specifically...and who need you in these "Saturday Chats"... they are more than these jerks...
Please reconsider your decision....
You are just Genial !!! ThanK YOU HEIDITA FOR EVERYTHING!!!
This is sad news. I will miss hearing you talk. I was nervous at these chats and disapponinted that I didn't do better, but your sense of humor really made the chats very enjoyable. I feel especially fortunate that you invited me to attend three of them. My highlight moment, " I'm sorry, I'm blind, I didn't see anything." Thanks for putting up with me Heidita!
¡Qué lástima!
Aparte de todo lo que he aprendido en esos chats, he pasado muy buenos momentos allí. He conocido a gente que me ha encantado conocer.
Los echaré de menos. Siempre me ha parecido que moderar un chat era una tarea muy complicada y lo hacías maravillosamente, Heidi.
Gracias a ti y a todos los que me habéis acompañado y enseñado durante tantas noches.
Oh dear. I never got the chance to participate in any of these formal chats. I have talked briefly to Heidita before though, and in the very short time we had I realised there and then what a wonderfully talented teacher she is.
Heidita, let me tell you this, you are very very much appreciated by 99% of the people on here. Don't let the 1% get you down ok.
Heidita, I have not responded to this thread yet because I did not know exactly what to say. I've lived long enough to know that activities where I am highly invested can sometimes evoke severe responses if they go unappreciated. This, in no way, places anything on you. On the contrary, I understand the level of investment you make in these chats. Though I have only attended one of your chats, I can recognize you are a skilled and dedicated teacher, willing to extend your skills for the benefit of your students. When dedication and investment on this level results in unappreciated responses, well, it can result in severe hurt. I understand that.
Maybe it is enough at this time for you to read the responses here and see the large number of people who appreciate your efforts. And perhaps, someday, we can do something that will cause you to reconsider your decision to stop the chats.
Saturday nights are usually a bad time for me, but I do appreciate all your efforts. I hope you'll reconsider in time. You have been a blessing to those of us trying to learn the language.
Thanks.
Acabo de leer este post, y en realidad no tenía mucha idea de lo que pasó. Anoche, hablando con Chris me comentó algo, y me dejó triste, pero no creí que hubiese sido algo tan fuerte. Ahora, hablando con otros amigos que estuvieron presentes, me doy cuenta de cómo fueron las cosas en realidad.
Me da una gran pena, pero también debo decir que estoy demasiado enojado. No puedo entender cómo puede haber gente que, aún cuando intentan ayudarle, reaccionan así de mal, y son tan atrevidos. Incluso, es inaceptable que te estén gritando, eso es lo que más me hace enojar.
Siempre te he (hemos) considerado una gran persona. Alguien que siempre está dispuesta a ayudar, a enseñar, a buscar formas cada vez más creativas e interesantes para hacernos aprender.
Eres un factor muy importante en esta familia.
Nos haces darnos cuenta constantemente cuan comprometida estás con todos nosotros, y tu gran vocación de profesora, lo cual es admirable. No mereces, ni debes estar soportando ese tipo de faltas de respeto. Todos nosotros te queremos muchísimo, y no dejes que ese cariño sea opacado por un par de personas, las cuales no aprecian tu gran esfuerzo y trabajo, tu preocupación hacia quienes estimas, que somos todos nosotros.
Me da mucha pena todo esto, y me sentí muy mal al leer este post. Lamentablemente yo no sabía sobre el chat de anoche, porque de haber estado presente ... 
... creo que es mejor que no haya estado, porque me molestan mucho ese tipo de acciones, las cuales carecen de respeto.
Espero que tu pena pase muy pronto, y esto sea sólo algo momentáneo, y pronto podamos disfrutar, aprender y reir junto a tí, como siempre lo hemos hecho, y como he tenido la oportunidad de presenciarlo cada vez que asisto a uno de los entretenidos chats que tú realizas con tanto cariño.
¡Un gran abrazo, Heidi! y recuerda lo que dije; no dejes que el gran cariño y respeto que todos nosotros te tenemos, sea opacado por un par de personas.
Don't ever forget :
and you've been always doing a
I was only able to attend a few Skype chats with Heidi, and each one was informative, fast-paced and fun! Of course like everyone else I was shaking from nerves, but somehow I muddled through. Heidi's laugh is so infectious, she puts you right at ease. I am sad to see that someone (apparently) was rude and disrespectful, I have no idea who it was or what happened, but that kind of behavior is just so uncalled for. I am shocked about this, and Heidi please accept my sincerest gratitude for all of the help that you have offered, and continue to offer here, whether of not it is on Skype.
I am quite sad that you had to take this decision,and I know it was not taken lightly.
Please accept my appreciation,respect, friendship and support for all you have done for me, (the guy who six months ago could not string a sentence together) and my appreciation for all you do for us here. With that I offer a profound thank you, and full support.
I for one will sorely miss the "sat chats" with you and hope one day you will reconsider and come back to us.
