One of the main challenges for educators during the pandemic has been successfully transitioning to online teaching, in some cases without adequate training. This article will address these issues and suggest effective practices for teaching Spanish online, especially in emergency remote teaching situations. Given these circumstances, instructors should conduct self-assessments through self-reflections and portfolios. In order to carry out these activities, universities should invest in professional development on teaching synchronous and asynchronously, the advantages and challenges of both types of sessions, and the role of the instructor in an online setting. Finally, suggestions for instructors are offered to improve effective online instruction.