Shadowing Practice: Can AI solve crime? ⏲️ 6 Minute English - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B2
6 Minute English from bbclearningenglish.com Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.
⏸ Paused
All Sentences96 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
6 Minute English from bbclearningenglish.com Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.
2
I'm Beth.
3
And I'm Neil.
4
Don't forget that you can find a transcript and a quiz for this episode on our website, bbclearningenglish.com.
5
Now, today, Neil, we're talking all about solving crime.
6
Do you think you'd be a good detective?
7
Actually, no, Beth, I think.
8
My brain's not very good with details.
9
Today, we'll be talking about how artificial intelligence might help detectives and the police investigate crimes.
10
But first, I have a question for you, Beth.
11
In the UK, lots of people enjoy watching fictional detectives on TV.
12
These programmes are called murder mysteries and tell the story of a detective solving a crime.
13
In 2020, a magazine called the Radio Times asked readers who their favourite TV detective was.
14
So who do you think was the most popular?
15
Was it A, Sherlock Holmes,
16
B, Hercule Poirot or C, Miss Marple?
17
Surely it's Sherlock Holmes.
18
Well, you sound very sure but I will reveal the answer at the end of the programme.
19
Now, when the police are investigating crimes in the real world,
20
their techniques are often quite different from what we see on television.
21
Yes, solving crimes involves collecting and reviewing lots of evidence,
22
like DNA, fingerprints or CCTV.
23
All of this work takes a lot of time.
24
So can AI help police speed up the work and even solve crimes?
25
That's the question listener Alistair had for the BBC Radio 4 programme The Artificial Human.
26
And host Alex Krotoski wanted to know more.
27
So Alistair, why are you asking this question?
28
Tell us a little bit about yourself and where you're coming from.
29
So, my name's Alistair and I'm a serving police officer.
30
My background is with investigation.
31
I'm looking at artificial intelligence and thinking,
32
what can it do for me?
33
Alex asks Alistair to explain where he's coming from.
34
This means explain his perspective or point of view.
35
In informal English, we'll often ask someone,
36
do you get where I'm coming from?
37
And we're asking whether they understand our opinion or perspective.
38
Alistair explains that he's interested in how artificial intelligence could help solve crimes
39
because he's a police officer with a background in investigations.
40
If you have a background in something,
41
it means most of your previous work or experience was related to something.
42
For example, I work as a producer at BBC Learning English now making programmes but my background is in classroom teaching.
43
Alistair talks about using artificial intelligence for training and asks,
44
what can it do for me?
45
This means, how can artificial intelligence help or improve something?
46
When a crime happens, police officers have to collect and review a lot of information to find evidence.
47
When you have a lot of information to review,
48
it can be difficult to know what's important and find patterns which might be relevant to the crime.
49
But Professor Ruth Morgan, an expert in crime and forensic science,
50
thinks AI could help speed up police work,
51
as she told BBC Radio 4's The Artificial Human.
52
I think we're seeing a renaissance in the pattern recognition forms of evidence,
53
so finger marks, footwear marks.
54
There's been lots of challenges with those forms of evidence over the last ten years,
55
probably, going a little bit out of favour.
56
And yet, what we're beginning to see now with AI is
57
that you can take a photo of a mark with your phone,
58
compare that mark to the database and get real-time insight.
59
Ruth says there's a renaissance in looking at patterns in evidence,
60
such as finger marks or footwear marks.
61
Renaissance means new interest or activity in a particular topic or area.
62
This kind of evidence went a little bit out of favour over recent years because of the excitement around DNA evidence.
63
If something is out of favour,
64
it's less popular or appealing.
65
But AI could mean that patterns in finger marks or footwear marks are useful in solving crimes again.
66
This is
67
because AI can be used to compare a picture of a mark with a database of pictures from other crimes
68
and get real-time insight.
69
The adjective real-time means the information is presented at the same time that it's happening.
70
Yes.
71
AI can compare lots of information very quickly,
72
which makes finding patterns in evidence much easier and more reliable.
73
There are some problems with using AI to solve crimes, though.
74
To find these patterns, lots of private information would need to be collected,
75
and police usually have to give clear reasons why they need access to certain information in their investigations.
76
It's unlikely an AI-powered robot would ever replace a detective any time soon.
77
Yes, and that reminds me of your question, Neil.
78
I said that Sherlock Holmes was maybe the most popular detective.
79
Was I right?
80
You were absolutely right.
81
And I think people should try the quiz on our website to find out how much they know as well.
82
It's at bbclearningenglish.com.
83
OK, let's recap the vocabulary we've learned,
84
starting with the expression where you're coming from,
85
which means your opinion or perspective on something.
86
Your background is the area that you have the most work experience in.
87
The question, what can this do for me,
88
means how can this help or improve things.
89
Renaissance means new interest or activity in something.
90
If something is out of favour,
91
it has become less popular or appealing.
92
And the adjective real-time means information is presented as it is happening.
93
Once again, our six minutes are up.
94
Head to our website to find more episodes of 6 Minute English at bbclearningenglish.com.
95
Goodbye for now.
96
Bye.

Download App

AI scoring for every sentence you speak

Scan To Download
Scan To Download
Download on theApp Store
Get it onGoogle Play
TRENDING

Popular

4.9/5 on App Store & Google Play

Shadowing English On Mobile

Learn English anytime, anywhere with the Shadowing English app. Improve your communication skills today!

Track your learning progress
AI grading and error correction
Rich video library
Download on theApp Store
GET IT ONGoogle Play
Shadowing English Mobile App

Why practice speaking with this video?

This episode of 6 Minute English focuses on the fascinating intersection of artificial intelligence and crime-solving, making it perfect for English learners looking to enhance their speaking skills. By engaging with this content, you not only expand your vocabulary related to crime and technology but also practice the shadowing technique, where you imitate the speech patterns and intonations of the presenters. This method can significantly improve your pronunciation and fluency. Watching media like this also allows you to incorporate shadowspeak into your routine, elevating your ability to speak naturally and confidently.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Throughout the video, several key structures and expressions stand out, offering rich material for English learners:

  • “I think my brain's not very good with details.” - This sentence showcases a common structure in English where personal reflections are expressed through opinion clauses.
  • “If you have a background in something…” - This phrase is useful to describe someone’s experience; it can help learners talk about their own qualifications and past roles.
  • “What can it do for me?” - This direct question form is crucial for inquiring about assistance or functionality, a common conversational theme.
  • “Do you get where I’m coming from?” - This idiomatic expression highlights understanding perspectives, which can enhance relational speaking.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you practice with this video, be aware of certain words and phrases that may pose pronunciation challenges:

  • “artificial intelligence” - Make sure to clearly articulate both parts of this phrase for better clarity.
  • “evidence” - This word contains subtle sounds that can be tricky; focus on the 'v' and 'd' sounds.
  • “review” - Pay attention to the vowel sounds; it can often be mispronounced as “revue”.
  • “pattern” - The double 't' can be challenging, and learners should practice emphasizing this consonant.

Using the shadow speech method, repeat after the speakers, mimicking their pronunciation and rhythm. This not only solidifies your grasp of these terms but also boosts your overall confidence in speaking English.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

☕ Buy us a coffee