This research aims at studying the interaction taking place in the online discussion forum of a hybrid English teaching training course, with face-to-face and online components, at a private language teaching institution in Brazil. In order to conduct an investigation into distance learning and social interaction, this study tries to answer two questions: (1) How can interpersonal relationships influence discursive practices in the e-learning context? (2) Bearing in mind distance learning principles, to what extent does the analyzed course reflect the collaborative learning approach? The work was developed following distance learning principles (Burge, 1998; Lévy, 1993; Berge, 1995; Johnson e Johnson, 1994); a theoretical framework based on Systemic-Functional Linguistics (Halliday, 1994; Halliday e Hasan, 1989; Thompson, 2004) and Appraisal Theory (Martin, 2000; Martin e White, 2005; White, 2005). The 90,000-word corpus used for the investigation consists of exchanges between online tutors and course participants (all of them English teachers), working as one whole group or several small groups. Discourse was analyzed with the aid of a concordance software and linguistic appraisal features were identified. Quantitative and qualitative research results point to little interaction in the discussion forum, as well as to the existence of asymmetrical relationships among online tutors and course participants. Both findings demonstrate that this online discussion forum was not an ideal environment for collaborative learning. This research highlights the need for: (1) the identification and creation of online tasks which are more in tune with the collaborative learning concept; (2) a closer relation between theory and practice as far as distance learning is concerned; (3) further investigation and sharing of knowledge on tutors` discourse, so as to create a more inviting environment for collaboration.