Even though some people argue that a person can be competent in another language and another culture, I believe it is possible. I think sometimes you do not even have to have an advanced level in another language in order to communicate. For example, while I was studying in India I was able to talk to people, even though my Hindi was very limited. Thus, being competent in another language means more than simply being able to speak it.
I remember using hand gestures that are often used within the Indian culture, and with a mixture of Hindi, English, and gestures locals would get my message. Now after living there and having a solid knowledge of Hindi, I feel competent to communicate in Indian society. Of course, this is not to say that I should not upgrade my language skills, but that communicative competence is based not only on grammatical and textual competence, but also illocutionary and sociolinguistic competences.
Moreover, living in the US for three years of my college life, I also feel competent to communicate within the American culture. One is able to adapt her to different situations and environments by living and interacting within a new culture. Hence, exposure and experience also play an important role in communicative competence. This allows us to become comfortable enough to interact in everyday conversations such as usage of humor and nonverbal communication.
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