Learner understands and applies that language works as a system.

The correct option is Systemic competence.

Explanation:

Systemic competence refers to a learner's knowledge of language as an interconnected structural system. It involves understanding and applying the fundamental components and rules of language—including phonology (sounds), morphology (word structures), syntax (sentence structures), and vocabulary—to comprehend and form well-structured utterances.

Let's analyze why the other options do not fit this specific definition:

• Strategic competence: Refers to the ability to use verbal and non-verbal communication strategies to compensate for breakdowns in communication or to enhance communication effectiveness.

• Communicative competence: A broader concept that encompasses a speaker's overall ability to use language effectively, appropriately, and meaningfully in various social contexts (comprising grammatical, sociolinguistic, discourse, and strategic competencies).

• Sociolinguistic competence: Refers to the knowledge of social rules, cultural norms, and context-appropriate language usage depending on the setting, topic, and relationships between participants.

Since the question specifically highlights understanding and applying language as a system, Systemic competence is the precise and correct answer.