Life-skills building through topics in cultural competency Achieving Competency in English is a life-skills text for newcomers to the United States. Cultural competencies covered in this book include common courtesy, meeting people, emergencies, community services, getting a job, minding your money, finding a place to live, staying healthy, food and nutrition, and education. Chapters contain reading passages, real-life situations for discussion, realia and writing components, visual literacy practice, and suggestions for outside study.