In this research we have tried to grasp the strategies that work on the teacher-student interaction on a distance education course. We have applied micro-ethnographic analysis to investigate the teacher's discourse, how he believes the way he uses language helps students and how students think the teacher's discourse helps them succeed in an online course. The data collected has shown that there is agreement between the students' and the teacher's opinions. They both point out the participation, affection, attention, and dedication on the teacher's part as the main features that make learning easier. The results obtained in this research offer some foundation for the initial or continued preparation of teachers in order to reach the best results in the efforts to mediate the development of learning.
interaction; virtual environment; discourse; teacher