Quiero que las prácticas sean en una ONG del barrio.

Because this is a subjunctive context.

• Quiero que… (I want that…) expresses a wish/desire about something that isn’t a fact yet.
• In Spanish, verbs in the clause after que often go in the present subjunctive when it follows a verb of desire, emotion, doubt, etc.

So:

• son = indicative (used for facts)
• sean = present subjunctive of ser (used for wishes/possibilities)

Quiero que las prácticas sean en una ONG…
= I want the placement to be at an NGO… (not a fact yet, but a wish).

Because querer que + different subject is one of the classic triggers of the subjunctive.

Structure here:

• Main clause: Yo quiero (I want)
• Subordinate clause: que las prácticas sean en una ONG… (that the placement be at an NGO…)

The subject changes:

• yo (I) = subject of quiero
• las prácticas = subject of sean

When there is:

• a verb of want / desire / preference (like querer)
• and the subordinate clause has a different subject

→ Spanish normally uses subjunctive in the subordinate clause:

• Quiero que vengas. (I want you to come.)
• Queremos que todo salga bien. (We want everything to turn out well.)

Because this is talking about the type / identity / location of the placement in a permanent or defining sense, not a temporary state.

Rough guidelines:

• ser: identity, type, classification, inherent characteristics.
• estar: temporary state, condition, current location of people/things.

Here, las prácticas sean en una ONG del barrio means:

• The placement is “of the type that takes place in” a local NGO.
• It’s about what kind of placement it is, not how it feels right now.

Compare:

• Quiero que las prácticas sean en una ONG.
  → I want the placement to be at / in an NGO (that’s the placement’s basic setup).
• Quiero que las prácticas estén en una ONG.
  → Sounds odd; you’d be treating prácticas like something physically located there as a temporary state, which isn’t the usual concept here.

So ser fits the idea of what the internship is, structurally.

In Spain, las prácticas very often means work placement / internship / training period, especially in a study or training context.

Key points:

• It’s usually plural: las prácticas.
• It’s a fixed expression in education/work:
  • Hacer prácticas = to do an internship / work placement.
  • Estoy de prácticas = I’m doing an internship / I’m on placement.

So las prácticas here is “the (work) placement / internship”, probably one the speaker is already expected to do as part of a course or program.

Spanish normally uses a definite article where English often doesn’t.

• las prácticas here refers to a specific placement that both speaker and listener have in mind (e.g., the internship for this course).
• English can say: I want the placement to be… or even just I want the placement at….
• In Spanish, omitting the article (prácticas sean…) would sound ungrammatical in this context.

You could also hear:

• Quiero que mis prácticas sean en una ONG…
  → mis prácticas = my placement / my internship, even though it’s one overall period, Spanish keeps the plural.

Yes, and the change is small but real:

• las prácticas
  → The internship/placement that is expected / known from context, maybe part of a course.
• mis prácticas
  → The same internship, but now you’re explicitly marking it as my placement. Slightly more personal.

Both are very natural. Context decides which sounds better:

• In a general discussion about how placements are organized, las prácticas fits well.
• When talking about your own specific case, mis prácticas might sound more personal:
  Quiero que mis prácticas sean en una ONG del barrio.

ONG stands for Organización No Gubernamental, which is feminine (la organización).

• The acronym ONG keeps the gender of organización:
  • una ONG, esta ONG, la ONG.

So:

• una ONG del barrio = a local NGO (an NGO from the neighbourhood).

It’s usually pronounced by spelling out the letters in Spanish:

• ONG → o – ene – ge
  /o eˈne xe/ in IPA-ish terms.

So aloud, the sentence would sound like:

Quiero que las prácticas sean en una o-ene-ge del barrio.

del barrio literally means of the neighbourhood, but the nuance is:

• A local NGO, from around here, usually with a sense of closeness or community.
• It often implies our neighbourhood without saying mi.

Alternatives:

• en una ONG
  → any NGO, no location implied.
• en una ONG del barrio
  → a nearby, local NGO.
• en una ONG de mi barrio
  → more explicitly in my neighbourhood.

So del barrio adds a sense of local / community-based.

You can, but the meaning shifts a bit:

• una ONG del barrio
  → An NGO from the neighbourhood (its base/identity is local).
• una ONG en el barrio
  → An NGO that is located in the neighbourhood (more neutral, just location).

Often in everyday speech the difference is small, and both could refer to a local NGO. But:

• del barrio emphasizes belonging to the neighbourhood community.
• en el barrio emphasizes being situated in the neighbourhood.

That word order is possible, but it sounds less natural and may sound slightly marked or emphatic.

Most natural:

• Quiero que las prácticas sean en una ONG del barrio.

If you say:

• Quiero que sean las prácticas en una ONG del barrio.

it could sound like you are:

• Emphasizing sean (the fact of being there) or
• Contrasting with another idea in context (e.g. …y no en una empresa grande).

In normal, neutral speech, keep:

• que las prácticas sean…

Yes, and both are very common. The nuance:

1. Quiero que las prácticas sean en una ONG del barrio.

   • Focus on how the placement is arranged.
   • More like: I want the placement to be set up at a local NGO.

2. Quiero hacer las prácticas en una ONG del barrio.

   • Hacer las prácticas = do my internship.
   • Focus on what you personally want to do.
   • More like: I want to do my internship at a local NGO.

In many contexts, they’re interchangeable, but:

• The first highlights the arrangement / decision about where the internship ends up being.
• The second highlights your own action of doing it there.

No. That would be incorrect Spanish.

You need que to introduce the subordinate clause:

• ✅ Quiero que las prácticas sean en una ONG del barrio.
• ❌ Quiero las prácticas sean en una ONG del barrio.

Pattern:

• Querer + que + subjunctive:
  • Quiero que vengas.
  • Quiero que todo salga bien.
  • Queremos que él participe.

Common softer or more polite options:

• Me gustaría que las prácticas fueran en una ONG del barrio.
  → I would like the placement to be at a local NGO.
  (gustaría

  • fueran = conditional + imperfect subjunctive)

• Me encantaría que las prácticas fueran en una ONG del barrio.
  → I’d love the placement to be at a local NGO.

• Preferiría que las prácticas fueran en una ONG del barrio.
  → I would prefer the placement to be at a local NGO.

In everyday speech in Spain, Quiero que… is not rude, but these softer forms feel more tentative / polite or hypothetical.