Disadvantages Of Computer Mediated Communication

Recently, the technological advances in network-based communication along with a shift toward a more social view of learning present special promise for foreign language learners. One of the particular interest among various forms of computer-mediated communication (CMC) is synchronous, real-time communication or chatting due to its resemblance to oral interaction. Network-based CMC allows learners to communicate and collaborate with one another on-line via written text. CMC chatting has been shown to be beneficial for language learning. Not only has this procedure been found to promote more language production than in face-to-face oral discussions, higher rates of participation, increased motivation, and positive attitudes (LeMond, 2004).

The use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter has rapidly grown to become a popular and influential form of computer mediated communication. The rationale behind using Facebook and Twitter for teaching and learning purposes is that they provide a platform or a meeting point for students who can socially interact with their classmates as well as communicate about their learning in their very own non-threatening space. In addition to the traditional lectures and tutorials, the online discussion forum of the Facebook and Twitter site has a tremendous potential to enhance learning and teaching, in particular for the development of higher order learning skills, student-centered pedagogy, authentic learning and interactive learning communities. Therefore, there is a need to investigate how students perceive and assess the effectiveness of Facebook and Twitter in providing a pedagogically sound virtual learning environment that could enhance their learning experience (Chartrand, 2012, Rasiah,

Twitter is a social network in which the members of a community share their current activity by answering the question :What are you doing? This form of social interaction is called microblogging. Microblogging tools enable users to post short messages that are distributed within their community. Users can post messages from their mobile devices, a Web page, from Instant Messengers and desktop clients. The same channels are used for receiving messages. Twitter seems to be a perfect tool to support learning English, especially in blended classrooms, for the following reasons. First, Twitter is easily accessible from almost everywhere, so the students can practice at any time by sending and receiving messages either on the computer or the mobile phone. They can also decide how much time they spend reading and writing these messages. This is an essential feature for busy students. Second, Twitter is suitable for any level of English because in writing the messages, the students can chose a topic and grammatical structure fitting their level. Third, the use of Twitter as an online learning community can help to integrate students in the community who could not attend classroom (Borau et al.,