If you'd like to put what you're learning in class into practice in the real world, NYU in Madrid offers opportunities for internships and community services. You may intern with Spanish firms, nongovernmental organizations, and private schools or volunteer with organizations that help the disadvantaged. Not only will you improve your Spanish, but you'll also learn about Hispanic culture from an insider's perspective. Please note that a high level of spoken Spanish is required for many of the immersion opportunities, although there are some options for intermediate speakers. In the U.S., volunteers are allowed certain independence with their schedules, whereas in Spain, volunteers are expected to make serious long-term commitments.
For other less formal opportunities to practice speaking Spanish, you may participate in language exchanges with Spanish students, act in the play that NYU in Madrid presents every semester, and collaborate in the program's newsletter, Ensalada Mixta. You may attend the conferences and talks sponsored by the program, which open doors to discussions with distinguished scholars from many disciplines. You may also take private classes in areas like Spanish dance or guitar. It's up to you to choose what best suits your interests and your schedule.