In the age of the Internet, communication with teachers is no longer limited to a few classroom sessions. Anywhere and anytime, a regular email box makes interaction between teachers and students easy and convenient.
Ms. Pham Thi Bich Hanh, a graduate student in Business Administration at Open University of Ho Chi Minh City, shares: “When students do not grasp the lecture, face challenges in learning, or even want to continue discussing a past topic, they can confidently send emails to their teachers. Learning continues regardless of space and time, which is a significant advantage of email communication.”
According to Ms. Hanh, for working students, limited time makes group meetings, task assignments, and discussions challenging. While phone communication can be quite costly, email and chat help members save time significantly, and the amount of shared information also increases considerably.
Currently, in most large cities, accessing the “world wide web” has become very familiar, and communication tools like email, chat, VoIP, etc., are widely used. Most students majoring in Information Technology (IT) or those who work regularly online own at least 1-2 email accounts.
“Previously, not having a computer meant you could hardly work; now, not accessing the Internet is like not having a computer at all. Checking email daily and multiple times has become an irreplaceable habit, regardless of whether there are emails or not—like an addiction,” said Master Tran Quoc Binh, an alumnus of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology. “Regular communication with instructors helps learners gain more information since teachers provide materials through links and attachments conveniently. Compared to traditional learning, learning via email is more effective, and it can save a lot on photocopying costs.”
“Email enhances communication between teachers and students, offers multiple channels for information, and is quite flexible in terms of timing. The classroom cannot address all discussion topics, and email has effectively supported addressing this issue. It is highly personalized. The more students can interact with teachers, the more information they can grasp.,” commented Dr. Nguyen Huu Lam, Director of the Research and Development Center for Management at the University of Economics in Ho Chi Minh City. “This tool sometimes overwhelms teachers due to the volume of work they have to manage, but I support email communication because it is one of the very active learning methods for students nowadays.”
This interaction not only increases learning effectiveness but also establishes a closer, positive relationship between teachers and students. For female teachers, occasions like March 8, October 20, November 20, or holidays often fill their inboxes with congratulatory messages and e-cards. Young, single male teachers also receive frequent “inquiries” from many female students. Many teachers provide their email addresses and encourage students to contact them through this medium instead of mobile phones, as mobile communication can be intrusive if not done at the right time.
In classrooms, email addresses are a prevalent means of communication. In addition to personal mailboxes, there are also group and class mailboxes. Class emails are quite important as they serve as a forum for sharing and storing information and learning experiences while also being a place for receiving notifications and teaching materials from subject teachers and the department office. However, the level of usage of this medium among class members is not entirely common due to some students not having regular access to the Internet or older students being hesitant to learn about computer applications.
Ms. Hoang Thi Ngoc Trinh, a student in her “U-50” age group, shares: “I am very weak at using computers and naturally dread subjects that require this skill. My email address was created by my daughter, who checks it every day. My classmates also inform me of urgent announcements via phone. Being weak in this area certainly puts me at a disadvantage compared to my peers, but it… is complex and hard to grasp.”
Meanwhile, Master Tran Cong Binh believes: “I prefer to learn from teachers who regularly use the Internet and allow communication via email because I can maximize access to new knowledge that is frequently updated without time constraints. Currently, there are too many professors who do not know how to use computers, which is a significant disadvantage for both them and the students.”
Many agree that communication via email yields the best results when both teachers and students actively use this communication tool. Distance learning via the Internet, E-learning, or email may not entirely replace traditional learning methods, but they are excellent supporting tools. Enhancing interaction is also a way to improve learning effectiveness.
Ngoc Hang
