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A Google+ community for gamification in education.  

This video introduces apps that help people communicate with others and learn language through pictures.

Account is free; find collaborative projects with students around the world. Has a limited number of free student epals account too.

ePals is a free web 2.0 resource that provides language classes the opportunity to connect with target language speakers around the globe. Communication can range from simple email messages to wiki and blog collaboration to multimedia presentations and even Skype video chat. Teachers can monitor all activity, for the sake of student security. A potential project would be for both groups - advanced level students in the local L2 group - to read the same story or poem and then use the ePals blog tool to share opinions (targeting writing skills) and later the Skype video chat to discuss (or perhaps debate) the text (targeting oral skills).

This helpful summary of a recent #langchat Twitter discussion resonates with me personally, since I have taught primarily according to textbooks in the past. The concerns and responses described in the blog are very helpful for me, in changing up the paradigm I've grown used to.

Here's a list of iPad and iPhone apps for learning Spanish - all are free.

However, once you've chosen a particular class of Web 2.0 technology (i.e. content creation tools, communication tools, social networking tools...) making a selection from among several seemingly similar Web 2.0 tools in that class can often be challenging and time-consuming. That's why a checklist is useful. It will save you time by helping you eliminate poor

Blogger is a free site for blogging. It is incorporated with Google, so if the user has a Google account, he automatically  has a Blogger account. This site (as well as any simple blogging site) can be used for students to publish their writing and receive a world-wide audience. Additionally, students can keep a reflection journal of their own progress, feelings, and questions regarding their learning. Finally, instructors can use blogs to communicate important information to their students as well as share their voice in an easily-accessed, asynchronous means.

ThingLink is a web tool that allows groups to comment on with text, audio, video, and to share and/or embed them. This resource has multiple applications in the FL classroom, including visual literacy, information literacy, enhancing communication and collaborative skills. One example activity: upload a map and have students describe various locations on map orally, in video, or text, and then have them comment on/expand upon each others' posts.

Communicate with students who are learning another language.

What a neat idea! I watched the video where the Japanese family showed their home. What a great glimpse into the life of another culture. I wonder if there's a site for French/Spanish videos...or perhaps I could host one! Thanks for sharing!!

Great video resources for all learners with multiple languages and varying topics and proficiency levels. The video library includes and introduction and illustration of standards and the 5 C's, models that cover the interpretive, interpersonal and presentational modes of communication and assessment stragegies

students work together to accomplish a task - and this is done in the target language.  Students can also change the language of the game they are playing, and log onto a server in a target-language country.  They then learn how to communicate with them.  You can ask students to write about their experiences and perhaps give a narrative about the quest they went on (in the TL, of course)

This very whimsical, yet well-organized and engaging website offers a variety of activities for learning Spanish. Zachary Jones uses songs, videos, graphics, and articles to make the learning process authentic and enjoyable. One also can follow Zachary Jones on Twitter to receive Vocabulary of the Day on @ZJonesSpanish

This tool allows you to build in questions and comments into a reading that the students can access outside of the classroom. The students can communicate within the readings to respond to questions to help check understanding and comprehension of assignments.

This sound like an interesting tool. Do you know if this works only with readings that are provided through this site or can teachers also integrate articles, or textbook excerpts?

Resources for teachers, can-do statements chart, info for students

Uclass is an online portal for classroom connections around the globe. Similar to ePals, this site allows teachers to create a virtual classroom and then request to connect with other classrooms for pen-pal exchanges or project collaboration. This site promotes cultural awareness and opportunities to easily connect with other classes around the world to arrange projects and virtual exchanges. Once teachers create a site (register) they can add students to the class to create student accounts. From there, one can search for other classes seeking pen-pals. Teachers can post messages for all users to view, suggesting topics of interest to language study or project proposals. Students can send direct messages to other students in other classes and within their own class, provided that the teacher has permitted this function within the class. Easy tool for getting started with global project collaboration and communication exchanges in the target language.

Paper.li provides a forum for students to find TL newspaper articles and publish an online class newspaper. This could be used with upper-level students to expose them to news and authentic language materials, and allow them to create based on their interests.

Storybird is a visual storytelling community. A global hub of readers, writers, and artists of all ages. Students and teachers can make, read, and share short, visual stories with an easy-to-use tool. Teachers and students can select artwork, drag and organize photos, and add your own text to create beautiful digital stories. These creations can then be published on the web with adjustable privacy settings and with the option to allow comments, which is perfect for teachers to encourage student collaboration. In addition, there is the option to create a classroom account. You can sign up for free or consider an upgrade to a paid account. World Language teachers can create stories for their students to read and share online. Students can also read or create short visual stories to share with their teacher and their peers.