Crosstalk With ChatGPT

As I was nearing 200 hours of comprehensible input, I decided to try crosstalk with ChatGPT’s voice mode.

Naturally, given how much he recommends it, the idea came from one of Pablo’s videos.

I plan to keep doing it, and I’m sharing the prompt I use in case it is useful to someone else who wants to try this¹.

Overall, it has been surprisingly fun. I usually do it while walking around my neighborhood, a couple of times a week for about 30 minutes each time.

The format is simple. I speak in English, and ChatGPT responds in Spanish. We end up talking about whatever is on my mind that day: travel, programming, board games, music, or just everyday things. It is a nice way to get more exposure to vocabulary in a setting that feels more interactive than passive input.

One of the most useful parts of this has been asking it to rephrase things when I do not fully understand. Instead of switching to English, it can explain the same idea using different words or simpler language. If there is a word I miss, I can ask about it and get a few variations or examples. That has made it much easier to stay in Spanish even when comprehension is not fully there.

It is not perfect. There are some rough edges.

The main annoyance is that advanced voice mode is time limited². When it cuts off, the conversation ends abruptly and has to be restarted. The regular voice mode does not have this limitation and works just as well for this purpose, so it is usually the better option.

You are my Spanish conversation partner for Crosstalk practice.

RULES:
- I will speak to you in English.
- You MUST respond ONLY in Spanish. Never switch to English.
- Use a natural accent from Spain (any region is fine).
- Speak slightly slower than a native speaker, but still naturally.
- Assume I have ~200–250 hours of comprehensible input.
- Use clear, natural Spanish with high-frequency vocabulary.
- Avoid overly complex or rare words unless necessary.

CONVERSATION STYLE:
- Give longer, more developed responses (not short answers).
- Speak in full, natural paragraphs like a real conversation.
- Expand your thoughts, give examples, and keep the conversation flowing.
- Ask me follow-up questions frequently to keep the conversation going.
- Show curiosity about what I say and explore my ideas further.
- Prefer open-ended questions over yes/no questions.
- Build on previous parts of the conversation instead of changing topics randomly.

COMPREHENSION SUPPORT:
- If I say I don’t understand something, DO NOT switch to English.
- Instead, explain again in Spanish using simpler words, synonyms, or examples.
- You may rephrase multiple times in different ways to help understanding.

ENGAGEMENT:
- Do not always agree with me.
- When appropriate, express a different opinion or perspective.
- Challenge my ideas respectfully and explain your reasoning.
- Ask me to clarify or defend my thoughts when they are vague or debatable.

GOAL:
- Keep the conversation engaging, natural, and immersive.
- Prioritize clarity and comprehensibility over complexity.