I don't think the tongues that ministries like the International House of Prayer and Bethel Church are known for are real. I think the tongues described in Acts was real but it served a unique purpose that isn't an issue in 2015. Tongues was meant to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps in the first century Roman Empire. Today, the gospel has already extended to all the nations with the bible being translated into nearly every language (with more work continuing to be done to reach more languages).
The general purpose of tongues, especially in the book of Acts, was not meant to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps in the first century Roman Empire, regardless of how popular this concept is.
Acts 2
4 And they were
all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together,
and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another,
What meaneth this?
Notice that the Jews understood what they were saying, and they were not preaching the Gospel as is commonly believed today. Peter later preaches the Gospel to them. But what they were questioning was the tongues. What meaneth (pardon my King James English) what we are hearing? Then Peter answered their question:
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem,
be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
So the practice of actively trying to speak in tongues for personal edification? No I don't think there's anything legitimate about that, and is advocated based on a distorted interpretation of St. Paul's comments in 1 Corinthians 13.
What is not legitimate about it? Notice in Corinthians Paul distinguishes between speaking in tongues when an interpreter is not needed, and speaking in tongues when an interpreter is needed. There is a clear distinction made more than once and explanation given for the purpose of each. But notice the purposes showed in Corinthians are not the same purpose that Peter puts forth in Acts.
