Renowned Hong Kong actor and filmmaker Daniel Wu has captured widespread attention on Chinese social media with the launch of his English-language course, designed to help fans improve their spoken English. On February 26, Wu introduced the course through a video on his newly created social media account, “Daniel Wu Teaches English,” which quickly amassed over 200,000 followers across major platforms.
Developed in collaboration with Gaotu, a prominent Chinese education technology company, the course is available on its app. Wu, 50, born and raised in California, is admired for his fluency in English, making him one of the most proficient English-speaking actors in the Chinese film industry. Having starred in over 60 films, including the critically acclaimed New Police Story alongside Jackie Chan, his talent has earned him accolades such as the Best Supporting Actor award at the Golden Horse Awards in 2004. With nearly 7 million followers on his personal Douyin account, Wu continues to maintain a strong fan base in mainland China.
In the video announcement, he shared his enthusiasm for teaching English, stating that his career has evolved from acting to directing, but one constant has been the importance of English in connecting with the world. He emphasized that, as a native English speaker with over 20 years of experience in Hollywood, he aims to help students master conversational English effectively.
Wu is among several celebrities leveraging online platforms for education, following in the footsteps of notable figures like J.K. Rowling and Edward Norton. To promote his course, he incorporated references from the recent animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2, which has grossed over 14.5 billion yuan (US$2 billion) at the Chinese box office. He taught followers two key phrases from the film: “Be quick to obey my command,” and “I am the master of my destiny!”
The course, priced at 398 yuan (US$55), consists of 84 lessons recorded primarily by Wu himself. It promises to help students master 35 conversational scenarios within 30 days, covering topics such as travel, shopping, slang, idioms, and tongue twisters. A standout feature is its interactive AI function powered by DeepSeek, which enables students to engage in vocal practice through dialogues and role-playing while mimicking Wu’s voice.
Social media users have reacted enthusiastically, with one student noting that while the AI does not perfectly replicate Wu’s voice, the course remains highly engaging and easy to follow. Another fan expressed surprise that the course was actually taught by Wu himself, while a third joked that if Daniel Wu had been their English teacher in school, learning the language would have been effortless.
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