Shadowing Practice: What is AI? - Learn English Speaking with Video

What is AI?

You've probably heard a lot about artificial intelligence or AI in the last few years.

News and social media has been flooded with stories

and reports about AI and there's been a global conversation about the balance between risks and supporting innovation.

But once we sweep away some of the complicated words, cliched imagery and science fiction, what is artificial intelligence?

The term artificial intelligence can mean a lot of things and there is no single definition that is suitable for every scenario.

But one widely accepted meaning is that AI systems are machines

that perform tasks that normally require human intelligence and often learn from and use data to do those tasks.

The idea of AI has been around for a long time.

Discussions around artificial intelligence began in the 1940s and 1950s with the advent of computers

and had already entered homes by the end of the 20th century with the AI systems inside automated vacuum cleaners.

AI systems follow the rules of an algorithm or a method of data analysis called machine learning to make predictions and decisions.

These systems are often used to do tasks that are traditionally thought of as requiring humans.

So, what are the different types of artificial intelligence?

Here are a few examples.

Narrow AI is the type of AI that has been around the longest.

It is an artificial intelligence system that has been developed or trained to do one specific task.

For example, a fraud detection tool might be trained to look for patterns in a set of financial transactions

and flag the need for investigations.

General purpose AI involves using large quantities of data to train a system to perform a wide range of tasks.

These AI systems can be used to generate content, translate languages or answer queries.

They are often referred to as foundation models

because they can provide a base system upon which more specific AI applications can be built.

You may also have heard of the term Artificial General Intelligence or AGI.

This is an idea that computers will soon be able to achieve general intelligence and autonomy, but this is still, as yet, very much theoretical.

Has your council started discussions about an AI strategy?

What existing processes in your council could benefit from AI support?

What training or guidance might you and your team need to work effectively with AI?

Watch more of our AI Unpack series to explore answers to some of the most common questions about AI.

These videos explain some of the terms and concepts to help you understand how you and your organisation

might respond to the opportunities and challenges the AI brings.

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53 sentences

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

The speaker keeps coming back to these words: intelligence, artificial, task, term. This video has 31 sentences and 447 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:48. The speaker talks at a natural 160 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. Only 80% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding. 6 of its 31 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.

Key vocabulary in this video

The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
automate verb	/ˈɔ.təˌmeɪt/	To replace or enhance human labor with machines.
clichéd adjective		Repeated so often that it has become stale or commonplace; hackneyed.
query noun	/ˈkwɪɹ.i/	A question, an inquiry (US), an enquiry (UK).
advent verb	/ˈæd.vɛnt/	To arrive or begin, especially at the first coming or appearance of something.
imagery noun	/ˈɪmɪd͡ʒɹi/	The work of one who makes images or visible representation of objects.
autonomy noun	/ɔˈtɑ.nə.mi/	The right or condition of self-government; freedom to act or function independently.
cleaner noun	/ˈkli.nɚ/	A person whose occupation is to clean things, especially rooms, floors, and windows.
translate verb	/tɹænzˈleɪt/	To change spoken words or written text (of a book, document, movie, etc.) from one language to another.
prediction noun	/pɹɪˈdɪkʃən/	A statement of what will happen in the future.
sweep verb	/swiːp/	To clean (a surface) by means of a stroking motion of a broom or brush.
theoretical adjective	/ˌθi.əˈɹɛt.ɪ.kəl/	Of or relating to theory; abstract; not empirical.
algorithm noun	/ˈælɡəɹɪðm̩/	A collection of ordered steps that solve a mathematical problem. A precise step-by-step plan for a computational procedure that possibly begins with an input…
traditionally adverb	/tɹəˈdɪʃ.ə.nə.li/	In a traditional manner.
detection noun	/dɪˈtɛk.ʃən/	The act or process of detecting, uncovering, or finding out, the discovery of something new, hidden, or disguised.
quantity noun	/ˈkwɑn(t)ɪti/	A fundamental, generic term used when referring to the measurement (count, amount) of a scalar, vector, number of items or to some other way of denominating…

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	You've probably heard · has been flooded · has been
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	has been flooded · has been developed · might be trained

Pronunciation to watch

The “th” sounds: theoretical /ˌθi.əˈɹɛt.ɪ.kəl/, algorithm /ˈælɡəɹɪðm̩/
The “sh” and “zh” sounds: prediction /pɹɪˈdɪkʃən/, traditionally /tɹəˈdɪʃ.ə.nə.li/, detection /dɪˈtɛk.ʃən/
Long words — get the stress right: autonomy /ɔˈtɑ.nə.mi/, theoretical /ˌθi.əˈɹɛt.ɪ.kəl/, traditionally /tɹəˈdɪʃ.ə.nə.li/

How to practise with this video

Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like automate, clichéd, query.

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

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