About Grégory
A journey through languages, history and Hispanic cultures
Teacher, researcher and passionate about the Hispanic worlds, I created the Destino Circles at the crossroads of my personal, academic and teaching journeys.
Why Destino Hispano?
Based in Madrid, I am a Spanish teacher and I chose to make Spanish much more than a language to learn: a gateway to the cultures, societies and people who speak it.
Throughout my journey, I have had the opportunity to live in Spain, travel through Latin America and meet people from different backgrounds.
These experiences inspired me to create a space where people can practise Spanish while discovering, understanding and discussing the Hispanic worlds.
Teaching to get people talking
For the past 10 years, I have been teaching Spanish, mainly to French-speaking learners.
These years of teaching have allowed me to develop different teaching approaches and, above all, to better understand what learners need to make progress and gain confidence when speaking.
With the Destino Circles, I want to take this a step further: creating the right conditions for everyone to really take part in the conversation, develop their ideas and find the words they need to express themselves confidently in Spanish.
Understanding the Hispanic worlds
My two PhDs, in Spanish and contemporary history, have allowed me to deepen my knowledge of the Spanish language, but above all to explore the historical and social issues that have shaped Spain and Latin American countries.
Because a language is more than grammar and vocabulary, my research has led me to become particularly interested in the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) and its repercussions in Spain to this day.
To truly understand what we hear and read, we also need to know the histories, references and societies behind the words. This is what I try to bring into my work every day, and what I hope to share with you. These are fascinating worlds to explore!
Spanish in all its diversity
Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Peru… There is no single Hispanic world, and no single Spanish.
My experiences in Spain and Latin America (including Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, as shown in the photo), as well as my encounters with Spanish speakers from different countries, have allowed me to discover the diversity of the Spanish language, its cultural references and different ways of seeing the world.
This is the richness I want to bring into the Destino Circles.
Bringing cultures and conversations to life
Between 2018 and 2024, I also collaborated with the Festival de cinéma espagnol de Nantes, where I introduced films and moderated discussions with the audience.
I particularly enjoyed this experience: starting from a film, providing a little context, listening to people's reactions and, above all, bringing different perspectives into dialogue.
This is an approach that can also be found in the Destino Circles today: a document or a work as a starting point, followed by a conversation that takes us further.
I have also had the opportunity to experiment with other ways of sharing knowledge and ideas, including creating a podcast with friends.
Logo : Festival de cinéma espagnol de Nantes — source : Infos Média Nantes
Another way to build connections
I am also passionate about football and have been a coach for around ten years.
Football plays an important role in my life, not only because I enjoy the game, but also because of everything it represents: teamwork, connections, motivation and shared challenges.
And, just like in a Destino Circle, I like seeing everyone find their place within a group.
“Spanish as a gateway to the Hispanic worlds and the people who live them.”
Grégory Pirmet, Founder of Destino Hispano