The concept of evaluation in foreign languages learning needs to be redefined in relation not only to the imperative revision of the traditional model (knowledge assessment) but also to the integration of technologies in both teaching and assessment practices (skills assessment). Assessing oral skills in a foreign language, in the context of distance higher education in Portugal, is a sensitive matter. The transition from the evaluation of learning to the evaluation for learning has been experienced at the Universidade Aberta (Portugal). From podcasts to showcasts, the way forward has been marked out. We are moving from a knowledge assessment approach to an approach that seeks the development of the skills that are crucial to students in the 21st century. The model presented in this article has already proven its worth.