The aim of this paper is to present a practical experience in a distance-based course of phonetics and spoken Spanish. The course is integrated in a larger program at Dalarna University (Sweden) and it is addressed to first year students of Spanish. It is aimed at making students capable of understanding and producing their own spoken texts while reflecting upon the different varieties of spoken Spanish. First of all, we will present some electronic learning environments as a good option for supporting distance learning courses. Secondly, we will point out the importance of effective self-regulated learning on foreign language distance courses and for this purpose we will present an interactive activity in which the students background, interests and the language itself become the main challenges. How can we motivate the students? How can we help create an adequate virtual classroom atmosphere on a distance learning course? Aspects such as autonomous learning, motivation, interaction as well as pragmatics and interculturalism are all involved in this workshop.