Reflection 3: Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) and ESL

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Hello again! 

So, in this entry, I am going to share with you about what I have learnt on topic Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) and ESL.


From the lesson, I’ve learnt that CMC is basically a ‘glittering term’ to explain interaction between people via separate computer through network connection. It’s literally a term to explain about what you and I have been doing for as long as we have internet – e-mail, WhatsApp; well, you get the idea. Interestingly, CMC has been adapted and used in education starting 1980’s to 1990’s (I was borne in 1990’s!) – what started as email and forum back then makes it possible for us now to have mediums for genuine communication, even distant learning to help in our own education. And hey, some universities even offered a diploma through 100% online learning. 

Features of CMC


As I mentioned in previous entry, I’ve learnt to understand that there are two forms of CMC: asynchronous (delayed form of communication like e-mail, forum, message board etc) and synchronous (direct form of communication where you expect to get immediate reply like WhatsApp or WeChat).  These forms of communication in CMC can help a student like me to enhance my own learning. For example, google doc and google slide applications make it possible for me and my friend to collaborate and do our work simultaneously from different side of the world. My friend could be in London, editing her slides in the google slides and I could be somewhere in Malaysia, seeing her progress in the slides while doing my part too in the google slides. On the plus side, even though we are in different side of the world, CMC makes it possible for us to have a genuine communication through medium like WhatsApp and WeChat. 

Example of Asynchronous CMC
Example of Synchronous CMC



However, I also learnt that in every Pro; there are Cons that we should consider. Although CMC allows for distant communication, it is not equal to a full-fledged human interaction. The lesson reminds me of how I sometimes misunderstood my friends’ message in the WhatsApp group – well, that’s the thing; you can’t read people’s emotion or social cues through words, image or video alone. CMC doesn’t allow you to have that.



Overall, I’ve learnt a lot from this week’s lesson. Although history tends to bore me, (somehow) I wish we could learnt more about those computers we have and the inventors who came out with the inventions in the past. It’d be great if we could get our hands on the computers – a bit of taste of what our grandmas and grandpas used to have back then. I guess, I am sentimental like that. 

 So, that’s it for today’s entry, until next time!


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