Hello and welcome to Linguaspectrum, the best place on the Internet to learn English.

I am a professional, experienced teacher of English as a second language (ESL). I created this website to teach you English. Not all students can afford to learn English with a real English teacher, but no student can afford not to learn English.

You can study at your own pace with 98 free lessons. I am adding new ones every week. There are also 11 quizzes, 91 crossword puzzles and 106 hangman games to test your understanding and help you learn faster.

You will also find a library of 30806 English quotations, a grammar reference with 164 entries, and a growing collection of 700 phrasal verbs. I also have a forum where I will answer any of your questions about English.

Everything is completely FREE for you. To get the best from the site you should become a member. Membership is FREE and I will never ask you to pay to use this site, ever! Join by clicking the link on the right.

Here you can improve your reading comprehension, your listening comprehension, your grammar and your vocabulary knowledge and even your writing skills. If you want to improve your speaking skills, you can take private classes with me online.

You can find more information about private classes by following the links at the top of the page. I also offer a Writing Improvement course where you can improve your standard of writing whether you are a native English speaker or not.

Please explore the site and enjoy learning. I add new material every day. Members get a personal email every time I put a new lesson, a new quiz, or a new crossword puzzle on the site.

Thanks for your interest, and good luck with your studies,

Richard.

Private English Conversation Classes with Richard

These classes are for students who simply want to practice their spoken English.

The only way you can improve your productive English skills - speaking and writing - is with the direct help of an experienced English teacher. That is why I offer private English classes online to a limited number of students.

These classes give you immediate help with your pronunciation and vocabulary.

You have access to a native British English teacher at the time and place that suits you.

Each class last for 30 minutes.

To book these classes you must first have an introductory class.

The introductory class costs just €3

Book your introductory Conversation Class today - and improve your English faster than you ever dreamed.

After your introductory class you can buy single classes or a package of classes to save money.

Buy	Total Cost	Cost per Class
1	€6.00	€6.00
5	€29.00	€5.80
10	€57.00	€5.70
20	€110.00	€5.50

Book your classes at the times and dates that suit you - depending on availability of class times.

Considering Online Classes with Richard?

Take a look at this...

Example of Class Notes after a Conversation Class.

If you want a more intensive course of study, choose my Private English Intensive Classes.

Private English Intensive Classes with Richard

These classes are for students who want an intensive course of study and are willing to work hard to improve their English. If you want a less intensive learning experience, you can choose my Conversation Classes instead.

The only way you can improve your productive English skills - speaking and writing - is with the direct help of an experienced English teacher. That is why I offer private English classes online to a limited number of students.

Before every Intensive Class I will send you a Class Preparation Pack that can include the following:

• Grammar
• Vocabulary
• Reading
• Listening activities

Actual content will match your level and your study needs.

Your Private English Intensive Class will cover your preferred area of English:

• General English
• Business English
• Medical English
• English for Technology
• Any other English For Special Purposes.

After completing the Class Preparation Pack you will have 30 minutes speaking with me based on the content of the Preparation Pack.

To book these classes you must first have an introductory class.

The introductory class costs just €3

Improve your English faster than you ever dreamed.

Buy individual classes or a package of classes to save money. All materials are provided. There are no hidden costs.

Buy	Total Cost	Cost per Class
1	€9.00	€9.00
5	€42.50	€8.50
10	€80.00	€8.00
20	€150.00	€7.50

Book your classes at the times and dates that suit you - depending on availability of class times.

These classes are more expensive than Conversation Classes because they involve considerably more work on my part.

Considering Online Classes with Richard?

Take a look at this...

Examples of Class Preparation Packs: Advanced | Intermediate levels.

Improve Your Business and Communicative Writing Skills.

You already know that the ability to express yourself in writing accurately and persuasively is essential for success in the world of business, the legal services, the academic world, and many other areas of professional endeavour.

I would like to work with you to hone your writing skills to the point where your pen is your mightiest weapon in your quest for success.

I am offering you a personalised course of writing improvement that will help you improve all of your business and communicative writing skills quickly, effectively and enjoyably.

This service is for:

• Non-native and native English speakers.
• Non-native speakers of English with at least an advanced level of English.
• English speakers who have no problems with reading, listening or speaking, but feel that their writing skills let them down or hold them back from the success they deserve.
• Those who don’t always know where to put the correct punctuation.
• Those who want to improve their writing style.
• Those who want to improve their range of vocabulary.

You can use this service right away.

Because I am one teacher and take on only a limited number of students I can provide a personal service unlike any you will find elsewhere.

I prefer not to offer my students a pre-packaged course to follow.

More often than not such courses are boring to work though, cover areas that are irrelevant to the student, or waste time by giving the student information that they are already familiar with.

How Does it Work?

I offer a service where your needs dictate the requirements of the course. By completing a series of assignments based on your real-world experiences and needs,you will steer the course in the direction that you need as an individual.

This is not a one-size-fits-all approach to writing improvement. It is a personal course basted on your needs and ambition.

As each assignment is completed and submitted I am able to judge your progress and learning needs. Using this method, you will improve your writing from the moment you receive your first corrected assignment.

You do not have to work your way through a series of irrelevant and de-motivating steps before you begin to see an improvement.

Considering Online Classes with Richard?

Take a look at this...

Example of a Writing Correction Exercise.

Am I Qualified to Help You?

What are my qualifications to tell you how to write better?

• I have been a professional writer since 1984.
• I have written and had published numerous articles in national (UK) and international magazines and in newspapers and trade publications.
• I write articles for publication in print or on the Web every month.
• I have written and published several short stories in popular magazines.
• I have been employed as an advertising copywriter, writing the entire copy for several successful advertising campaigns in the UK.
• I have been employed as a freelance copy-editor for several business clients.
• I have developed several websites, including this one.
• I am an experienced and qualified English teacher, teaching all aspects of grammar to students in the classroom and online since 2003.
• I am passionate about the English language.

You can find out more about my love affair with the English language by visiting my blog at richalmers.com

What Will I Help You With?

I will help you to impress you colleagues, your bosses and even yourself with your use and understanding of:

• Nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs
• Prepositions, conjunctions and interjections
• Phrases, clauses, sentences and paragraphs
• Punctuation including periods, commas, colons, semi-colons, hyphens, parentheses, quotation marks, question marks and exclamation points
• Idioms, clichés, jargon, tautology and faddish words
• Your writing style and choice of vocabulary
• Planning, outlining, drafting and revising

Get Started

To use the service select it from the Add/Renew Subscription tab above.

5 assignments cost just €27.50. That’s just €5.50 each. Plus your first assignment is FREE.

Your first assignment will be emailed to you when you make a purchase. What you write in this first assignment will give me a very good idea of where many of your problems lie. Full instructions for your first assignment will be in the email you receive automatically when you book your course of writing assignments.

Every time you get a corrected assignment back by email you will also receive instructions for your next assignment. This will be based on the problems I identified in your previous assignment. The corrected assignment will be fully annotated with explanations for each error and suggestions for improvement.

I will have your writing assignment returned to you within 24 hours.

Newest Lesson at this Level:

Irregular Verbs - English Irregular Verbs - Tuesday, 30th January 2007

English verbs are easier than most other language verb structures. However, the irregular verbs are a source of confusion for language learners.

This is a set of 174 flashcards that help you to more easily remember English irregular verbs. 

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Post Beginner - L1 - Red

This grading is for material that can be used for any level. It does not match the European Community levels.

All Lessons by Level | Lessons by Category (ESP) | Search for a Lesson

Newest Lesson at this Level:

The Moon and Her Mother - Aesop's Fables - Wednesday, 3rd March 2010

This is a short video English lesson bringing you Aesop's fable, the Moon and Her Mother.

The moral of this story is that those who constantly change never get what they truly desire. You have to be consistent and single-minded to achieve your goals. Being consistent and single-minded in your English studies is necessary if you want to achieve a high level.

This video complements the video Lunacy and Lunatics, which tells you all about the phases of the Moon.

There is also an exercise under the video where you have to rewrite the story.

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Elementary - A1 - Orange - Level Details

These lessons are for students who can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce themselves and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where they live, people they know and things they have. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

English Level Test for this level

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Newest Lesson at this Level:

The Moon - Present Simple - Grammar - Thursday, 18th February 2010

This English lesson looks at the present simple tense using the theme of the Moon.

The lesson looks at when we use the present simple and introduces a lot of vocabulary. It also provides you with a lot of information about the Moon and NASA's Apollo project in the late 1960s.

It includes footage of the Saturn 5 Moon rocket lifting off and gives lots of information about the rocket. It shows footage of Neil Armstrong's first step on the Moon, and his immortal words, "That's one small step for man..." This video is one of the most interesting ways that you will find to help you learn how and when to use the present simple tense in English.

You might also be interested in: Present Simple Positive and Negative and An Introduction to the Present Simple

There is a short related video lesson here.

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Pre-Intermediate - A2 - Yellow - Level Details

These lessons are for students who can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of their background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.

English Level Test for this level

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Newest Lesson at this Level:

Lunacy and Lunatics - Vocabulary - Tuesday, 23rd February 2010

Do you know what a lunatic is? Do you know what lunacy is?

What is the difference between a waxing gibbous moon and a waning gibbous moon? Why are some tides so much higher than others? Does the Moon really influence the brain or even a woman's menstrual cycle?

These questions and more are answered in this English language lesson about our nearest celestial neighbour, the Moon.

There is a short related video lesson here.

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Intermediate - B1 - Green - Level Details

These lessons are for students who can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

English Level Test for this level

All Lessons by Level | Lessons by Category (ESP) | Search for a Lesson

Newest Lesson at this Level:

Valentines - Love and Marriage - Sunday, 14th February 2010

February 14th is Valentine's Day.

Named after a 3rd Century Roman priest, Valentine's Day is a celebration of romantic love. The day is an opportunity to show your feelings for someone you like. It is a day when flowers, and roses in particular, become move valuable than gold, and chocolates acquire bigger boxes and price tags.

Whether you intend to celebrate the day or not, this video will introduce you to some of the truths behind the fiction of St. Valentine's Day. It will also provide you with lots of new vocabulary and the means to learn and practice your new found words.

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Upper Intermediate - B2 - Blue - Level Details

These lessons are for students who can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

English Level Test for this level

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Newest Lesson at this Level:

Key Law - Key Legal Vocabulary - Friday, 17th July 2009

This lesson looks at 30 words that are used extensively by the legal profession and in general life when talking about law and legal matters.

The words are chosen from the following words: accuse, appeal, arrest, binding, breach, case, charge, civil, claimant, commit, contract, convict, court, crime, criminal, damages, defence, defendant, dispute, evidence, fine, guilty, hearing, injunction, innocent, judge, judicial, jury, lawyer, legal, offence, plead, prosecute, sentence, settlement, trial, tribunal

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Advanced - C1 - Indigo - Level Details

These lessons are for students who can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express themselves fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.

English Level Test for this level

All Lessons by Level | Lessons by Category (ESP) | Search for a Lesson

Newest Lesson at this Level:

Cat and Dog Idioms - Idioms - Friday, 17th July 2009

Idioms are like phrasal verbs; difficult to comprehend and remember, yet essential to everyday English.

I've chosen 13 common idioms that use the words dog or cat or both.

Idioms like A dog's life and Let the cat out of the bag.

These idiomatic expressions are used in everyday situations and it's important that more advanced students know them and understand their meaning.

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Proficient - C2 - Violet - Level Details

These lessons are for students who can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.

English Level Test for this level

All Lessons by Level | Lessons by Category (ESP) | Search for a Lesson

The sun too penetrates into privies, but is not polluted by them.

Diogenes of Sinope

The mob is the mother of tyrants.

Diogenes of Sinope

The great thieves lead away the little thief.

Diogenes of Sinope

The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.

Diogenes of Sinope

Stand a little less between me and the sun.

Diogenes of Sinope

Most men are within a finger's breadth of being mad.

Diogenes of Sinope

Man is the most intelligent of the animals - and the most silly.

Diogenes of Sinope

It was a favorite expression of Theophrastus that time was the most valuable thing that a man could spend.

Diogenes of Sinope

It takes a wise man to discover a wise man.

Diogenes of Sinope

It is the privilege of the gods to want nothing, and of godlike men to want little.

Diogenes of Sinope

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Search Quotations | Quotations by Subject | Quotations by Author

Gibe - To reproach with contemptuous words; to deride; to scoff at; to mock.

Gibe - An expression of sarcastic scorn; a sarcastic jest; a scoff; a taunt; a sneer.

Gibel - A kind of carp (Cyprinus gibelio); -- called also Prussian carp.

Giber - One who utters gibes.

Gibfish - The male of the salmon.

Gibingly - In a gibing manner; scornfully.

Giblet - Made of giblets; as, a giblet pie.

Giblets - The inmeats, or edible viscera (heart, gizzard, liver, etc.), of poultry.

Gibstaff - A staff to guage water, or to push a boat.

Gibstaff - A staff formerly used in fighting beasts on the stage.

Gid - A disease of sheep, characterized by vertigo; the staggers. It is caused by the presence of the C/nurus, a larval tapeworm, in the brain. See C/nurus.

Giddily - In a giddy manner.

Giddiness - The quality or state of being giddy.

Giddy - Having in the head a sensation of whirling or reeling about; having lost the power of preserving the balance of the body, and therefore wavering and inclined to fall; lightheaded; dizzy.

Giddy - Promoting or inducing giddiness; as, a giddy height; a giddy precipice.

Giddy - Bewildering on account of rapid turning; running round with celerity; gyratory; whirling.

Giddy - Characterized by inconstancy; unstable; changeable; fickle; wild; thoughtless; heedless.

Giddy - To reel; to whirl.

Giddy - To make dizzy or unsteady.

Giddy-head - A person without thought fulness, prudence, or judgment.