Final answer:
Kyle is an example of a Subordinate bilingual because he still needs to translate his thoughts from English to Italian before responding, indicating that Italian is not yet an autonomous linguistic system for him.
Step-by-step explanation:
Kyle, who has been learning Italian intensively for a year and is now able to understand and respond during his visit to Italy, is an example of what type of bilingual person? In his case, Kyle shows characteristics of a Subordinate bilingual. This is because even though he understands the language and can communicate, he needs to translate his thoughts from English to Italian before responding, which indicates that Italian has not yet fully become an autonomous linguistic system for him, separate from English.
Learning a new language, much like learning to ride a bicycle, requires multitasking and developing new skills. Yet, in this context, there's an added layer of complexity, as Kyle has to mentally switch gears between two distinct language systems.
Educational studies often point to the importance of bilingualism and how it aids individuals in their professional lives, as seen with Lucy, who is both English and Spanish proficient and uses her bilingual skills in her law enforcement studies. For Kyle, his journey into bilingualism is underway, and with more practice and exposure, he could progress to a more advanced level of bilingualism where translating from English to Italian becomes unnecessary.