Open Draft - with Fabio Cerpelloni

In this episode, I'm joined by Mary Glazunova, an English teacher, coach and author from Kyiv, Ukraine. I met Mary at the beginning of 2021 in an online teacher training course on how to teach without coursebooks and we've been sharing lots of teaching ideas since then. In the episode, you'll hear us talk about:  How Mary learned English without ever living in an English-speaking country What...

In this episode, you'll hear one of my own true stories from April 2022. It's a story inspired by a photo of my car. Head to my website if you'd like to see it (link below). At the beginning of the episode, you'll hear me talk about the 'Storyworthy Book Club', an online group program I'm opening again in September that will help you become a better storyteller, communicator and English speaker. A...

In this episode, I'm joined by Cara Leopold from Leo Listening. Cara is an online English listening skills coach, and movie fan who helps adventurous expats and intrepid travellers harness their love of movies to understand authentic English, so they can connect with the cultures behind the films and other movie lovers around the world. Cara has an amazing community called 'Movie Club'. 'Movi...

When I think of superpowers, I usually think of flight, invisibility, x-ray vision or supernatural speed, but in this episode I tell a personal story about a more simple one that could really change my life. This is a story from 2022 inspired by a photo of my dad. Head to my website if you'd like to see it (link below). At the end of the episode, I also talk about a grammatical structure I used in...

In this episode, I talk with Alessio Garavello, a professional Italian guitarist, singer, songwriter, vocal coach, sound engineer and music producer based in London. Alessio has been working as a session musician for over two decades and has performed live all across Europe with A New Tomorrow, his hard rock band. I first met Alessio in the UK in 2011. We worked together in a popular coffee chain...

In this episode, you'll hear a personal story that reveals an aspect of my personality which I believe is common in most people. Perhaps it's an aspect of your personality too. The story takes place in Fiji, a beautiful country in the South Pacific I visited in 2016, and it's inspired by a picture of a Fijian man I took while I was there. You can see this photo on my website (link below). At the e...

In this episode, you'll hear the second half of Vale's story. If you haven't listened to the first half, this episode might not make a lot of sense to you, so I'd suggest you listen to Episode 22 first and then come back to this one. In Part 2, Vale talks about how some people reacted to what she's been doing on Instagram and explains how she uses social media to help women in Iran discover their...

In this episode, you'll hear a true story about oppression, rebellion, freedom and discovery. You'll hear me speaking with Vale, a young Iranian woman who left her country because she was feeling oppressed there. She comes from a traditionalist Iranian family but discovered a world she'd never seen before when she saw some pictures in her English textbooks. She's now living in Italy and uses socia...

In this episode, I share a personal story from 2011, when I started working in a café in Central London. Living in the UK was my first experience abroad. I was 24 at the time, spoke little English and was very insecure. But writing this story gave me the chance to reflect on how much progress I've made, both as a person and as an English speaker and I hope this episode might inspire you to keep gr...

In this episode, I talk with the legendary Martin Johnston from Rock n' Roll English. We talk about learning languages as he's from the UK but speaks fluent Italian! We also speak about having kids because Martin shares his own true story inspired by a photo of his Italian wife holding up a very important piece of paper ;) Episode Links The photo that inspired Martin's story (stolaroid.com/martin)...

In this episode, I have a chat with Lara, the English teacher who founded enbooo.com. You'll hear talk about learning English, pronunciation and accent. Lara also shares her own true story about her first date with Marcos, her Spanish boyfriend. It's exactly like the title of the episode describes it: insane! Episode Links The photo that inspired Lara's story (stolaroid.com/lara) Lara's website (e...

In this episode, I tell my own true story about a time I told my partner, Aloha, that I was going to visit the Auschwitz concentration camp. This is a story inspired by a photo of us two on top of Mount Igen, an Indonesian Volcano (link below). Confusing, right? I know, but things will become clear as you listen, I promise! :)  Episode Links The photo that inspired 'Auschwitz' (stolaroid.com/...

No stories today. Just an unplanned reflection on war and the current situation in Ukraine.  If you're an online language teacher, consider buying Maria Glazunova's book to help a Ukrainian teacher of English from Kyiv.  Episode Links Gino Strada's full speech   (en.emergency.it/culture-of-peace/abolishing-war-is-urgently-needed) How to get in touch with me Email me at fabio@stolaro...

In this episode, I talk with Zdenek, an amazing English teacher and podcaster from the Czech Republic who teaches English through football. Zdenek talks about how he learned English and shares his own true story about his first English lesson at a language school where he'd just been hired in the centre of London. His story is inspired by a photo of him in a changing room. You'll find it on m...

In this episode, I tell my own true story about being an Italian abroad. This is a story that might make you think about your country and people, and it's inspired by a photo of a pizza I took in 2016.  Head to my website if you'd like to see it (link below).   Episode Links The photo that inspired 'Arrogant' (stolaroid.com/arrogant) My podcast page on my website (stolaroid.com/stories)...

In this episode, I talk with my friend Rebecca, the owner of Inglês Express, a language school in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Rebecca shared her own true story inspired by a picture of her US passport (link below). You'll also hear us talk about travel problems, tropical fruit, falling teeth and being robbed at gunpoint.  Episode Links The photos that inspired Rebecca's story (stolaroid.com/...

In this episode, I tell a true story about a time I went shopping with my girlfriend Aloha. It's a story I briefly told in Italian as a vocal message on Whatsapp to some of my friends. When they heard it, most of them replied, "You MUST tell this story on your podcast!". So, here it is. It's inspired by a photo of me that Aloha took in the shopping mall. Head to my website if you'd like to see it...

In this episode, I tell a true story about an aspect of the relationship I have with dad. We're very different but so similar at the same time. This is a story that might make you think about your dad or, why not, your mom. The photo that inspired this story is a picture of my dad's hands. Head to my website if you'd like to see it (link below). Episode Links The photo that inspired 'Hands' (stola...

In this episode, I tell a true story about a time I was bullied. I was a kid but I still remember what happened very well. I then discovered something about the bully that had humiliated me. This is a story that might make you think about a time you felt humiliated or, maybe, a time you humiliated someone! The photo that inspired this story is from 2001. Head to my website if you'd like to see it...

I spent years of my life far from my family and friends. If you did this too, or if you live far from your dear ones, I think this story will very much resonate with you. If you didn't, this is still a story that might make you think about the place that you call home. What and where is home? Some people say that home is where your family is. Others say that the whole world is our home. Telling th...

In this episode, I share a personal story about Susy, a person that changed my life forever. This was a very hard story for me to tell but I'm glad I had the courage to share it. By crafting this story I reflected on many things and, I won't lie to you, I even cried. Some people told me it made them cry too, so it's probably a good idea to have some tissues at hand :) I hope you'll find this episo...

In this episode, I tell a personal story about discovering what freedom might really mean for me. It's a story from 2013, when I was living and travelling around Australia. What happened in this story is probably one of the most important things I've learned in life and it's something that might make you reflect on your idea of freedom. What does being free really mean for you? Think about this qu...

In this episode, I tell a personal story about two people I met while I was backpacking in Bulgaria: Sasho, a cool Bulgarian guy, and Emma, a lovely girl from Greece. Meeting this couple made me reflect on the type of people I like hanging out with and I hope this story will inspire you to do the same. You'll see a lovely photo of Sasho and Emma on my website (link below). Episode links The photo...

In this episode, I tell a personal story about a 10-day Vipassana silent meditation retreat I took in South Korea in 2017. I was isolated from the world for 10 days. No internet. No smartphones. No books. Nothing! I meditated all day every day and discovered what/who my biggest enemy in life is. This is a story that, I think, will really make you reflect a lot on yourself.  I'm not religious...

In this episode, I tell a personal story about the way I tend to form impressions about people I don't know. It takes place in the summer of 2021 while I was buying a souvenir in Greece and it's a story that might make you think about the way you make judgments about strangers. The photo that inspired this story is not particularly special. It's not a picture of that moment but one of the souvenir...