Busuu

Busuu  http://www.busuu.com/enc
 * Resources and links**

Articles and tutorials:
http://resources.bravenet.com/articles/design/ http://www.fluentin3months.com/busuu-livemocha-review/

Strengths:

 * Learn from native speakers: Learn directly from native speakers of the busuu.com community via our integrated video-chat application! By doing so you can practice your language skills in a live conversation.
 * Lesson Plans: The site has have prepared over 150 learning units covering diverse topic areas and grammar units covering the most important grammar points. The content is image and sound-based.
 * Learn for free: busuu.com can be used completely for free! However, you have the option to pay a minimal monthly fee to become a Premium Member. With that Premium Membership you gain access to additional functionalities and more material.
 * Mobile App: Extensive vocabulary - over 3,000 words and key phrases. From beginner to advanced intermediate levels (A1 - B2). Covering 150 different topics using day-to-day situations. Comprehensive audio-visual learning material with photos and recordings by native speakers. Sections include vocabulary, dialogues and interactive tests. Works on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android - no internet connection required. Free version includes 20 complete learning units - full content can be purchased inside the app. Learning progress can be synchronized with your profile on busuu.com.

Weaknesses:
>  To receive the full benefits of the site you must pay for a premium
 * Only twelve languages are offered
 * Geared towards older language learners, would not be age appropriate for Elementary students

Opportunities:

 * This would be especially helpful for a teacher who has a high ESL population within the classroom. While students learn English, the teacher could use this site to also learn their language. This site could also supplement ELL instruction for students in grades 6-12. However, this sight is not just for English language learners. Students whose native language is English and would like to learn another language could also benefit from using this site.

**Threats**:
This site does have a ‘link with Facebook’ button that may become an issue for students who cannot use social networking at school.

Ideas For the Classroom:
This sits allows you to chat with individuals who are native speakers to better learn the language. Students who are native English speakers using the site to learn a second language could use these chats to learn more about the culture that the language comes from. Students could create a project to discover more about the country of origin their language comes from, and use the chats with native speakers on Busuu to ask questions about their country. This website would make an excellent station for students because it caters to all students’ need, both ELL and non-ELL. Working with the program once a day would build language skills in an engaging interactive way.