The article deals with the concept and principles of distance education, or, as it is also called, distance learning, as well as its application as an element of the English teaching course at university. The main emphasis is on teaching students, including those who are studying at the technical faculty, English as a Foreign Language and English for Specific Purposes. The clarification of the notion “authentic videos”, their examples, and the role in teaching the aforementioned types of English are provided. Clips (fragments) from movies, TV shows, and programmes have been identified as the most effective types of authentic videos in terms of teaching English, in particular at the technical faculty. That was due to the fact that such kinds of records provided the students with useful information on the speciality and made up for some missing knowledge simultaneously with the presentation of “live” English vocabulary that is actually used by native speakers, and so, in the students’ professional field abroad.