On June 2nd at 12:30, Charles Zhang, founder, chairman, and CEO of Sohu, delivered the latest international news in both Chinese and English during his "Charles Zhang's English Class" livestream on Sohu Video. He shared stories about a meteor disintegrating with a loud boom, an actor's offline event leading to injuries, and the centennial of Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe, helping viewers learn English through current events.
Last Sunday, Chinese actor Zhang Linghe was scheduled to appear at an in-person brand event at a shopping center in Nanning. Due to an excessively large crowd, a glass door at the venue was shattered, resulting in minor injuries to five people and forcing the event's cancellation. Videos circulating on social media showed fans rushing in as the doors opened, with the scene becoming extremely crowded and chaotic. After one glass door broke, shards were scattered across the floor, yet fans continued to surge forward into the mall. Charles Zhang shared overseas coverage of this incident during the broadcast.
According to foreign media reports, Zhang Linghe's studio issued a statement that evening expressing apology. It stated, "Everyone's safety is always our top priority and the prerequisite for any event." The statement also indicated that the actor and his company would reimburse travel and accommodation expenses for fans who had traveled from afar to attend.
Recently, a meteor exploded over Massachusetts, USA, with the loud sound heard across the state. During the stream, Charles Zhang shared reports on this meteor. Most meteors burn up completely and dissipate harmlessly in the atmosphere without causing danger. However, larger celestial bodies can occasionally penetrate the upper atmosphere, creating brilliant fireballs and booming shock waves that grab public attention.
NASA stated that the energy released when this meteor disintegrated was equivalent to approximately 300 tons of TNT. The meteor fell into the waters of Cape Cod Bay, with no injuries reported.
June 1st this year marked the 100th birthday of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe. Citing media reports during the livestream, Charles Zhang noted that Monroe perfectly embodied the Golden Age of Hollywood. Her stunning looks and captivating screen presence contributed to the success of films like "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "Some Like It Hot." She evoked something beyond the movies themselves—beneath the glamorous surface of the star system lay deeper, even unsettling qualities.
To this day, Monroe continues to inspire generations of pop singers and fashion designers. Her image frequently appears in advertisements, and her life and death are continually revisited in books, on stage, and on screen.
Throughout the broadcast, Charles Zhang explained key English vocabulary in the context of the news, including words such as shatter, historical, inconvenience, afar, equivalent, breeze, cosy knitwear, portrait, and rumour-monger. "Charles Zhang's English Class" airs live on Sohu Video from Monday to Thursday at 12:30 PM. Daily highlights and vocabulary summaries are updated in the feed, with a Chinese-edited version available on "Zhishi Video."
At the end of the stream, Charles Zhang previewed the upcoming Sohu Extreme Explorer Conference, scheduled for June 6th, which will feature a strong lineup of outdoor extreme sports guests.
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