With regards to your question, your iPad must be connected to wifi. Go to Settings - Facetime and activate then launch the FaceTime app, sign in with your apple id, once verified it will ask you to input your email address. If you have a contact list already this will appear or just input someone's number or email to contact, of course they must have FaceTime also. Also go to Settings - Notifications and activate and set up your alerts here. You should be good to go.
The IPad Forum is a community of members from all walks of life and from all over the world coming together to share our experiences and to help each other learn about this wonderful piece of technology the Ipad. There is a wealth of information already here in the many threads we have so doing some searches will answer most of the questions you have. If then you cannot find the answer you are seeking then by all means post your question. There are many friendly and informed members here only too willing to help you.