ИСТИНА

This poster explores technical features and didactic characteristics of two online tools (VoiceThread and TodaysMeet) which can be considered to be effective for developing learners’ communication and collaboration skills as well as promoting students’ engagement outside the language classroom. To meet these goals, the developers have created both of these tools as cloud applications, in other words, there is no software to install as they work in any modern updated web browser and on almost any Internet connection. The main focus lies on the description of experience of implementing these online tools in an author’s blended language course “Information Technologies in Cross-Cultural Communication”, based on a cross-cultural project «Global Understanding”. A number of VoiceThread practical activities developing the abovementioned skills was elaborated by the author and is under discussion in the article as well. Conclusions drawn from this research show that VoiceThread activities encourage language learners to develop listening comprehension and speaking skills and enrich their knowledge of the subject with the help of their peers' previous experience whereas TodaysMeet talkrooms provide a ground to discuss conversation questions during online meetings and to negotiate collaborative projects (topics and content) asynchronously.