Shadowing Practice: What is an AI Token? | LLM Tokens explained in 2 minutes! - Learn English Speaking with Video
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23 sentences
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Generative AI is everywhere, and the currency and usage of Gen AI is measured in tokens.
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But what is a token?
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What do they do?
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And why are they important?
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If you want answers to these questions, then this video is for you.
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A token in the world of AI is the smallest unit of measurement that's processed by a generative AI model.
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When a new generative AI model is trained, we feed it all sorts of data.
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This data could be text, images, or audio.
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As the model is trained, it starts to pick up on patterns in the data.
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This could be words in text, groups of pixels in an image, or waveforms in an audio file.
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The team training the generative AI model decides that they want the patterns that get memorized to be big, small, or somewhere in between.
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Once a Gen.AI model is trained, it stores all its known patterns in what's called a vocabulary for large language models
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or a cookbook for image and audio generation models.
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And another name we give these patterns that Gen AI models recognize is called tokens.
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When an AI model is in use, it's given a set of input tokens, and then it refers to its knowledge base, and based on how these input tokens relate to one another,
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it'll try to make its most probable guess on what the desired output is in tokens.
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The input and output tokens are then counted which is used to measure the usage of the AI model.
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And this token usage is used to determine cost for generative AI models.
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The more tokens you use for a particular model, the more you pay.
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I hope this explanation on generative AI tokens was valuable.
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If it was, please like the video and subscribe to this channel if you want to see more content like this.
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And if you missed my one minute overview video on the best platform to get started with generative AI, you can find that here.
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Thank you so much, and I'll see you in the next one.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “What is an AI Token?”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: model, token, generative, patterns, usage. This video has 23 sentences and 350 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:53. The speaker talks fast, about 185 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. Only 77% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| token noun | /ˈtoʊkən/ | Something serving as an expression of something else. |
| audio adjective | /ˈɔ.di.oʊ/ | Focused on audible sound, as opposed to sight. |
| input noun | /ˈɪnpʊt/ | The act or process of putting in; infusion. |
| usage noun | /ˈjuːsɪd͡ʒ/ | A custom or established practice. |
| output noun | /ˈaʊtpʊt/ | Production; quantity produced, created, or completed. |
| refer verb | /ɹɪˈfɜː/ | To direct the attention of (someone toward something). |
| explanation noun | /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/ | The act or process of explaining. |
| currency noun | /ˈkʌɹ.ən.si/ | Money or other items used to facilitate transactions. |
| relate verb | /ɹɪˈleɪt/ | To tell in a descriptive way. |
| overview noun | /ˈoʊ.vɚˌvjuː/ | A brief summary, as of a book or a presentation. |
| measurement noun | /ˈmɛʒ.ə.mənt/ | The act of measuring. |
| subscribe verb | /səbˈskɹaɪb/ | To write (one’s name) at the bottom of a document; to sign (one's name). |
| vocabulary noun | /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/ | A usually alphabetized and explained collection of words e.g. of a particular field, or prepared for a specific purpose, often for learning. |
| probable adjective | /ˈpɹɑbəbl̩/ | Likely or most likely to be true. |
| pixel noun | /ˈpɪk.səl/ | One of the tiny dots that make up the representation of an image in a computer's memory. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| pick up on verb | To notice, observe, learn, or understand, especially something otherwise overlooked. |
Pronunciation to watch
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: explanation /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/, measurement /ˈmɛʒ.ə.mənt/
- Long words — get the stress right: explanation /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/, vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/, generative /ˈd͡ʒɛnəɹətɪv/
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 token, audio, input.
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.