Is communicating with a professor in one's field of study via email considered a violation of an oath one took upon oneself not to enter chat rooms, if the intention of the oath was to distance oneself from idle, unbeneficial chat?

The Gist of the Fatwa: Intention is the basis for oaths. So, if someone swears not to use the internet, for example, intending not to use it for impermissible things or things without benefit, then he does not break his oath by using it for education or similar beneficial purposes. On the other hand, one should not supplicate against oneself, as this is forbidden in an authentic Hadith.