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Working together on one document

In addition to face-to-face meetings, remote tandems are also possible in the form of telephone and video conferences. For this, collaborative text editors can help to continue working as a team despite the distance and thus make the work in the language tandem successfully.

Below you will find an overview of various collaborative text editors that are particularly suitable for working in language tandem.

  • Google Docs

    • Tool for creating and editing text documents, tables, presentations, and forms.
    • Real-time collaboration possible, including file sharing, comments, notification, chat, etc.
    • Several people can work on the same document at the same time.
    • Documents can be created and shared online with different usage rights (read only, comment, edit).
    • The suggestion mode in Google Docs allows changes to be suggested in documents. These can then be accepted or rejected.
    • Changes made are automatically saved. The revision history can be used to view older versions of the same document (these are sorted by date and include the name of the person who made each change).
    • Older versions of a document can be restored.
    • Every change can be tracked by all users in parallel and is listed in an easily comprehensible way.
    • Convert Word files (and PDF files) to Google Docs.
    • Created documents can in turn be downloaded in various formats (Microsoft Word, OpenDocument format, RTF, PDF, text only, or html).
    • No installation necessary (programme runs in a web browser and can be listed on any operating system).
    • A Google account is required to create a Google Doc, but others who are invited to collaborate via a link do not need a Google account.
    • Free of charge for personal use.
    • With the app: via a smartphone, tablet or computer, you can create, access, or edit documents from anywhere – even without an internet connection.

  • Padlet

    • Padlet is a digital pinboard on which texts, pictures, videos, links, voice recordings, screen recordings, and drawings can be stored.
    • Several people can work on a pinboard at the same time, fill it with content, comment on the entries and thus discuss them in real time in a live chat.
    • The contributions can consist of images, texts, wen pages, videos, audios, documents, places, or even drawings.
    • Various templates are provided to get started in cooperative work.
    • In addition to a classic pinboard, Padlet also offers different forms of organisation to arrange the information, for example in the form of columns or a timeline. Collaboration of all kinds is possible: wikis, glossaries, saving and comparing work results, mind maps…
    • Every change can be followed live by everyone, so that the content is always up to date.
    • An account is needed to create a Padlet, the editors do not need one.
    • The use of up to three pinboards is permanently free of charge.
    • The data created can be exported in various formats (including Excel and csv) and as a print file.

  • OnlyOffice

    • Powerful editors for editing text documents, tables, and presentations.
    • Platform for storing documents and organising work in the team.
    • Collaboration tools: chat, comments, mentions, track changes, compare documents, six different access rights.
    • Add-ons for working with bibliographies, videos, vocabulary, text translation and more.
    • The Document module is a central document management system. It enables the management of access rights with four types of rights (full access, review, read, and deny access), the management of versions and revisions of documents and the integration of third-party cloud storage such as Box, Dropbox, GoogleDrive, Nextcloud, OneDrive, or OwnCloud.
    • An integrated media player enables the playback of audio and video files directly in the cloud (support for various audio and video formats).
    • OnlyOffice does not use its own file formats, but natively uses the Microsoft formats .docx, .xlsx and .pptx. Files in the Open Document format (odt, ods, odp) and rtf text files can also be opened, however. OnlyOffice also reads PDF documents, but can only display them. Conversely, all files creates or edited with OnlyOffice can be exported as PDF.
    • Free desktop editors and cloud for personal use.

  • Zoho Docs

    • Editors for working on text documents, tables and presentations.
    • Compatibility with Microsoft formats and support for all common formats.
    • Online collaboration tools: sharing and exchanging documents, multiple sharing/access options, change notifications, chat, comments, etc.
    • Version history available.
    • Integration with WorkDrive & GoogleDrive.
    • The possibility to publish materials specifically in WordPress.
    • Many actions can be performed on saved files, such as archiving, attaching, sharing, emailing, importing or exporting, etc.
    • Free of charge, but an account must be created.

  • Etherpads

    • On the Etherpad server, anyone can create a new text document (“Pad”) without any access restrictions. Each text document has a fixed URL. Only of this URL is known can the pad be viewed and edited, and communication via the associated chat is possible. The employees are distinguished in the chat window by freely chosen names and in the text document by different colours.
    • Several people can edit a text document at the same time, and all changes are immediately visible to all participants. The changes made by the different editors can be differentiated by colour. Another convenient function is the possibility to chat in the editing window while editing text.
    • The edited text is saved at short intervals on the server side; in addition, everyone can explicitly save a certain editing status at any time. Via a timeline, every editing status can be viewed without delay at any time, usually down to the individual keystroke.
    • Most public Etherpad servers are set up in such a way that nothing is deleted. This means that everything that is written is permanently accessible via the version history (timeline) for anyone who knows the URL of the pad in question.
    • It is also possible to create password-protects pads.
    • The document can be exported at any time as plain text, HTML, Word document (via AbiWord), PDF, OpenDocument and, if necessary, in other formats and saved on your own computer. Copy and paste is also possible at any time.

  • Edupad

    • Collaborative text editor in which up to 15 people can work simultaneously on an online document.
    • It can be created at edupad.ch.
    • Free of charge and can be used with a browser without registration (invitation to edit via link).
    • Ease of use.
    • Has a timeline and chat function.
    • Simultaneous editing and tracking of editing in real time (the different colours of the font indicate the different authors).
    • An EduPad is not deleted (later access possible).
    • To structure the documents, EduPad provides common formatting, headings, and bulleted lists.
    • Import of Word, text, HTML, PDF, and OpenDocument files possible.