Based on classroom experiences as an instructor during the COVID-19 pandemic, many challenges and frustrations regarding the teacher-student relationship were encountered. Teaching became a solitary task, as there was little student participation, and the principle of amorosidade (Freire, 1996), highly valued in classes, had scarce response. Thus, this dissertation aims to generate understandings regarding the affections and beliefs that emerge in the discursive constructions with my student-collaborator. To achieve this, I draw upon studies of emotions (Zembylas, 2003; 2015; Le Breton, 2009), evaluations (Linde, 1997), and beliefs (Barcelos, 2006; 2007) in light of the ethical-critical-reflexive principles of Exploratory Practice (Miller et al., 2008; Allwright; Hanks, 2009). This study is framed within a qualitative-interpretivist approach (Lincoln; GUBA, 2006) and aligns with the practitioner research paradigm (Allwright; Hanks, 2009), as the understandings were collaboratively constructed based on our beliefs and affections. Furthermore, this study also takes on an autoethnographic nature (Bochner; Ellis, Jones, 2016). The analyzed excerpts were constructed in exploratory conversations (Dias et al., 2021), recorded, and transcribed following conventions based on Conversation Analysis (Bastos; Biar, 2015). Partial understandings suggest the significant relevance of affective relationships for the teaching-learning process of the participants. It is possible to perceive that, for the collaborators, a pedagogical practice based on love (hooks, 2021), trust, care, responsibility, and dialogue (Freire, 2021) are essential to create an atmosphere conducive to learning.