The article reveals the role of distance learning in modern educational process, evaluates the effectiveness of LMS Moodle platform. Analyzing an available ‘Russian as a foreign language’ distance course the author concludes there is a lack of such educational resources in spite of a great interest and demand. The paper describes a pilot experience of the SibFU on launching the “Distance Course of Business Russian”. The article provides a course structure, teaching software, detailed description of the elements and tools used to achieve educational goals. There is a part devoted to the forms of monitoring and evaluation off-campus. The ways of assessment for learning, assessment as learning and assessment of learning in Moodle are described. All the stages of the course realization, starting from recruitment and students’ registration, ending with technical difficulties and recommendations to improve the course are demonstrated; statistics and learning dynamics are also provided. Chinese students’ impressions and suggestions as well as future prospects of the author’s work are of particular interest.