This paper observes the effect of interpersonal communication as a strategy to overcome communication barriers in distance learning during the Covid-19 pandemic between teachers and students in the Indonesian Community Center (ICC) located in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. At the time, ICC students were required to have new normal of learning and living. These students faced numerous obstacles and barriers, including restrictions from the local government, insufficient technology to support distance learning, and difficulties in adapting to computer-mediated communication. xi Using the qualitative method and incorporating results from semi- structured interviews, this study examines how interpersonal communication helps to overcome communication barriers in distance learning. This research used 9 interpersonal skills/strategies by Ding (2021) as the research focus for a semi-structured interview, which are care, clarity, credibility, rapport, stroke, immediacy, confirmation, humor, and praise. It showed that communication barriers exist during distance learning at ICC Johor Bahru. The main barriers are technological, individual, and domestic. Further, interpersonal communication can be one of the strategies to help overcome communication barriers between teachers and students during distance learning. The elements of distance learning mostly used by teachers are care, clarity, and confirmation, and were delivered by teachers through various methods such as using technological tools or doing home visits.

Keywords: COVID-19, distance learning, interpersonal communication, education, communication barrier, interpersonal communication strategy