The study of a foreign language contributes in a direct way to the development of the competence in linguistic communication, completing, enriching and filling new expressive and comprehensive elements of this general communicative capacity. The learning of the language extracted based on the development of communicative abilities, will contribute to the development of this basic competence in the same way the first language does.

Language is the main vehicle of human thought, the most powerful tool for the interpretation and representation of reality and the instrument of learning, for that reason, the subject, in terms of its contribution to the improvement of the general communicative capacity, also contributes to the competence to learn to learn.

Nevertheless, its greater contribution resides in that the learning of a foreign language benefits enormously if contents are included that are directly related to reflection on ones own learning, so that each student can identify how to learn better and which strategies make them more efficient. That is the reason for the inclusion in the introduction of the curriculum; of a specific section on reflection on the students own learning. At the same time the decisions that cause this reflection favour autonomy and, in this sense, it can be affirmed that the foreign language also contributes to the development of the competence for autonomy and personal initiative.

The competences cited are currently in direct relation with the competence for information processing and the digital competence. Information and communication technologies offer the possibility to communicate in real-time with any part of the world and also allow simple and immediate access to an incessant flow of information that grows every day. The knowledge of a foreign language offers the possibility to communicate whilst utilizing it, and, what is more important is that it creates real and functional contexts of communication.

This subject contributes in good measure to the development of the social citizenship competence. Languages serve the speakers to allow them to communicate socially, but are also a vehicle of communication and cultural transmission. Learning a foreign language implies the knowledge of characteristics and cultural facts linked to the different communities of speakers. This learning, well orientated by the school, should be translated into the interest to know other cultures by relating to other people, speakers or learners of that language. At the same time, the knowledge of another language and of cultural characteristics different to the speakers own, contributes to a better comprehension and appraisal of the mother tongue and culture and favours respect, recognition and the acceptance of cultural differences and behaviour, promotes tolerance and integration and aids understanding and appreciation of both characteristics of identity, and differences.

Finally, although in smaller measure, this subject contributes to the development of the cultural and artistic competence, if the linguistic models that are utilized contain, even with the limitations of this phase of the educational process, linguistic production with cultural components.

From the beginning, languages have been an important way of exchange and a cultural enrichment amongst people. Studying another language and their cultural features, will favour the development of social abilities

based on the respect and the acceptance of different habits and behaviours.