引言

Introduction

在 Mandarin Inn，我们会定期发布学员访谈。通常情况下，编辑团队会根据采访内容进行整理与润色，让文章结构更清晰、阅读更顺畅。

At Mandarin Inn, we regularly publish student interviews. In most cases, our editorial team refines the responses so that the story reads more smoothly and clearly.

但这一次，我们做了一个不同的决定。

This time, however, we chose to do something different.

当 Geoffrey 教授把他的回答发给我们时，我们很快意识到，这是一段几乎不需要修改的文字。它真诚、从容，也带着一位学者特有的谦逊与温度。

When Professor Geoffrey Smith sent us his answers, we quickly realized that the text itself carried a sincerity and calm clarity that did not need much editing. His words reflected the thoughtful tone of a lifelong scholar—warm, reflective, and quietly humble.

在整理这篇访谈的过程中，我们也简单查阅了一些资料，才慢慢意识到 Geoffrey 教授在学术界拥有怎样的成就与声望。也正因为如此，我们反而更加敬佩他面对这次访谈时的态度——从容、谦逊，像一位普通的语言学习者一样，认真地讲述自己的经历与思考。

While preparing this interview, we also spent some time reading about Professor Smith’s academic career and gradually came to appreciate the extraordinary reputation he holds in the scientific community. Perhaps for this very reason, we admired even more the humility with which he approached this interview—speaking simply as a language learner and sharing his experiences with sincerity and reflection.

因此，在这篇文章中，我们几乎一字未改地呈现了 Geoffrey 教授的原话。

For this reason, we have presented his responses almost exactly as he wrote them.

或许这篇文章比一般的社交媒体内容更长一些，也没有刻意追求“快速阅读”的节奏。但在这个越来越快速、也越来越 AI 化的时代里，我们有时也会想：

The text may be longer than a typical social media article, and it does not follow the fast rhythm of online reading. Yet in this increasingly fast-paced and AI-driven world, we sometimes wonder:

也正因为如此，我们希望把 Geoffrey 教授的文字原原本本地分享给大家。

And for this reason, we are pleased to share Professor Smith’s words just as he wrote them.

自我介绍

Self Introduction

我叫 Geoffrey L Smith，是一名英国科学家。最近我刚刚完成了 HSK1 的学习，并计划在上海至少生活五年。

My name is Geoffrey L Smith. I am a British scientist and have just finished HSK1 and plan to live in Shanghai for at least 5 years.

我的妻子 Tessa 也在 Mandarin Inn 学习中文。我们有两个儿子、两个女儿，还有两个孙女。

I am married to Tessa (who is also a Mandarin Inn student) and we have 2 sons, 2 daughters and 2 granddaughters.

我目前是英国牛津大学的一名教授。在过去的 49 年里，我一直从事病毒学研究，先后在英国、美国以及现在的中国开展科研工作。我也非常喜欢给医学和生命科学专业的学生讲授病毒学课程。

我出生在英国利兹，在约克读书，后来进入利兹大学学习。在利兹大学期间，我认识了 Tessa，她当时在学习法律。

I was born in Leeds, England, went to school in York and then to Leeds University. Whilst in Leeds, I met Tessa, who was studying law.

2025 年，在 Mandarin Inn 的一次课堂上，我们还特别庆祝了一个纪念日——我们相识整整五十周年。

In a class at Mandarin Inn in 2025 we celebrated meeting exactly 50 years ago!

如果在五十年前有人告诉我们，半个世纪之后我们会生活在上海，并且一起参加中文课程，我们恐怕无论如何都不会相信。

If we had said then, that 50 years later we would be living in Shanghai and attending mandarin classes together, we would never have believed it!

大学毕业之后，我搬到伦敦攻读博士学位，研究流感病毒。后来我和 Tessa 结婚，我们一起搬到美国，在马里兰州华盛顿特区附近的美国国立卫生研究院（National Institutes of Health）工作了三年。

After Leeds, I moved to London and studied influenza virus for my PhD. Tessa and I got married and then we moved for 3 years to USA, where I worked at the National Institutes of Health, in Maryland just outside Washington DC.

在那里，我发展出了一些对病毒进行基因工程改造的方法，并证明这些改造后的病毒可以被用于开发新的疫苗。

Here, I developed methods to genetically engineer viruses and showed these engineered viruses could be used as new vaccines.

（Among Professor Smith's distinctions are a Teaching Award from Imperial College London, election to the Leopoldina, and the honour of delivering the Loeffler Lecture in Germany.）

1985 年，我获得了剑桥大学的讲师职位，于是我们回到了英国。五年之后，我转到牛津大学工作（在那里工作了十一年），随后又去了伦敦帝国理工学院（十一年），之后再次回到剑桥大学（又是十一年）。直到 2022 年，由于英国大学普遍实行年龄相关的退休政策，我从剑桥大学正式退休。

In 1985, I got a lectureship at the University of Cambridge and so we returned to UK. Five years later, I moved to the University of Oxford (for 11 years), then to Imperial College London (for 11 years), and then back to Cambridge (for 11 years) before retiring in 2022, because the University of Cambridge (and Oxford) have an age-related retirement policy.

在我的科研生涯中，我的实验室一直非常国际化。来自世界各地的学生和博士后在这里工作，其中也包括许多中国学者。这样的语言与文化多样性始终让我感到十分美好，也极大地丰富了我们的学术环境。

During my career, my research laboratory has been very international with many students and postdocs from all over the world, including many from China. This linguistic and cultural diversity has been wonderful and enriching!

为什么来到中国？

Why Did You Come to Chin

a?

我之所以来到中国，是因为虽然在 2022 年我正式退休，但我并没有准备好从科研和教学中真正退下来。

I came to China because, although I had to retire in 2022, I was not ready to retire from either teaching or research.

自 2022 年以来，我仍然在牛津大学指导一个研究实验室，并继续为那里的学生授课。依靠退休金的支持，我可以继续从事这些工作。

Since 2022, I have directed a research lab in Oxford and continue to teach there, supported by my pension.

后来，一位曾经在我实验室工作的中国博士后——如今已成为我在上海的同事——告诉我上海正在建立一个新的疫苗研究中心，并邀请我来负责这个项目。我欣然接受了这个机会。

So when one of my former Chinese postdocs, and now colleague in Shanghai, alerted me to a vacancy to lead a new vaccine research centre in Shanghai. I accepted this opportunity enthusiastically.

我很享受这种挑战：在一个新的国家生活，学习一种新的语言，体验一种新的文化，也品尝新的饮食。

I relished the challenge of living in a new country, learning a new language, experiencing a new culture and enjoying a new cuisine!

外国人学习中文是否有必要？

Is It Useful for Foreigners to Learn Mandarin?

是的，我认为绝对是有益而且非常值得的。

Yes, absolutely it is beneficial and useful!

在某些工作环境中，人们或许可以在不懂中文的情况下勉强生活和工作。但如果希望更好地融入社会，特别是在工作之外与更多人交流，那么学习中文是非常重要、也非常值得推荐的。

In some work settings, it may be possible to get along without mandarin, but to integrate better and particularly communicate with people outside your work setting, knowing mandarin is important and highly recommended.

此外，如果你懂一些中文，你还可以听懂同事们在说些什么——包括他们是不是在谈论你!

You can also listen and understand what your work colleagues are saying about you!

作为学生，你是怎样学习中文的？

As a Student, How Do You Learn Mandarin?

在我来到中国的第一周，我参观了几所中文学校，最后选择了 Mandarin Inn。我很喜欢这里轻松的环境、温暖的接待，以及学生群体的国际化氛围。

In my first week in China, I visited multiple Chinese language schools and selected Mandarin Inn. I liked the relaxed setting, the warm welcome and the cultural diversity of the students.

我已经学习中文将近一年。不过，由于我有时仍需要回到英国，在牛津的实验室工作并给学生授课，这些来回往返在一定程度上打断了我的学习节奏，也让我有时会忘记之前学过的一些内容。

I have been trying to learn Chinese for nearly a year, but I still spend some time in England because I have a research laboratory in Oxford and lectures to give Oxford students. These absences have been disruptive to my Chinese studies and I tend to forget what I have learnt.

在学习方法上，我喜欢先看到拼音和汉字的书写形式，然后听老师读出来，再自己动手写一写，并把它说出来。

When trying to learn mandarin, I like to see the written pinyin and Hanzi, hear it spoken, and then write it and say it myself.

我也尽量把单词放进简短的短语或句子里，这样可以帮助理解它在语境中的使用。

I try to include the words within a short phrase or sentence to put it in context.

为了练习，我把所有 HSK1 的汉字都写在卡片上。卡片正面写汉字，背面写拼音和英文释义。

To practice, I have written the Hanzi for all the HSK-1 words on a separate card with the pinyin and English on the back.

我和我的中国研究生会把大约一百张卡片铺在桌子上，汉字朝上，然后轮流读出这个词，翻译它，并用这个词造一个简单的句子。

Together with my Chinese research students, we place ~100 cards on the table Hanzi side up, and then take it in turns to pronounce the word, translate it and put the word in a short phrase or sentence.

对我的中国学生来说，这是练习英语的机会；而对我来说，则是练习中文。

For my Chinese students, who are trying to make their English even better, they do this in English, whereas I try to do it in Mandarin.

这个过程非常有趣。

It has been a lot of fun!

另外，因为我和妻子 Tessa 一起学习，我们也可以彼此帮助。

Also, because both Tessa and I are learning, we can each help each other.

我之所以一直保持对中文学习的兴趣，一方面是希望能更好地与中国朋友交流，另一方面也是因为我想了解这门美丽的语言，以及它与中国历史和文化之间的深厚联系。

I keep my interest in Chinese because I want to communicate well with Chinese people, but also because I want to learn this beautiful language and the links it has to Chinese culture and history.

坦率地说，我一直都不太擅长学习语言，因此学习中文对我来说确实是一件不容易的事情。但我仍然希望努力去学。

I have never been good at languages, so learning is hard, but I feel motivated to try hard.

这或许也与我的家庭背景有关。我的祖父是一位语言学家，是梵语研究学者。他一生致力于研究印度—雅利安语言，并编纂了相关词典。

Not least because my grandfather was a linguist and scholar of Sanskrit. He devoted his life to the study of Indian-Aryan languages and writing dictionaries! (Turner, R. L. A comparative dictionary of Indo-Aryan languages. London: Oxford University Press, 1962–1966.)

关于老师

About My Teacher

我对我们的老师 Teico 的评价再高也不为过。

I cannot speak highly enough about our teacher, Teico.

她不仅是一位技艺精湛、富有启发性的老师，同时也是一个非常温暖和善良的人。她非常善于鼓励学生，在帮助学生进步的同时，又能让课堂始终保持轻松和愉快。

She is not just a skillful and inspiring teacher, but she is a warm and kind person, who has the great ability to encourage and motivate students whilst at the same time making learning fun!

在每一节课上，总是充满了笑声。There are smiles and laughter in every lesson!

作为回报，我曾经为她制作了一块写有“汉语老师”的木牌。有时我也会给她的儿子的英语作业提供一些帮助！

In return, it was a pleasure to make this name plaque for her and sometimes to have the opportunity to help her son with his English homework!

有一张照片，是我们在我工作的研究所里一起拍的。这个研究所位于徐汇，过去叫做上海巴斯德研究所，现在已经成为中国科学院上海药物研究所的一部分。

Here is a picture of us together at the research institute where I work in Xuhui. It used to be called the Institute Pasteur Shanghai, but now is part of the Shanghai Institute for Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

当 Teico 来参观的时候，她说自己有点害怕，因为我们实验室研究病毒。不过当然，一切都是完全安全的。

When Teico visited, she said she was terrified because we work with viruses! But, of course, it is completely safe!

Mandarin Inn 的文化活动

Mandarin Inn Workshops

Mandarin Inn 每个月都会举办文化工作坊。我认为这是一个非常好的想法。

The workshops are a great idea, both for social interactions and also because they are educational about Chinese culture.

这些活动不仅可以促进同学之间的交流，也能让我们更多地了解中国文化。

They are valuable both socially and culturally.

坦率地说，我目前还没有参加过这些活动，但我非常希望未来能够参与。

I confess that I haven’t been to them yet, but would love to in future.

如果要提出一些建议的话，也许可以尝试剪纸，或者用竹子制作一些小工艺品。亲手制作东西总是令人愉快而有成就感的。

For future suggestions, how about one doing paper cutting, or making things out of bamboo. It is always enjoyable and satisfying making things.

在上海生活的有趣发现

Interesting Discoveries in Shanghai

对我来说，在 Mandarin Inn 最令人愉快的一点，是我们班级的国际化氛围，以及大家在课堂上的欢乐。

For me, the most interesting and pleasing things about our class is how very international it is and how much enjoyment we have together.

在 Mandarin Inn 之外，上海的大多数标识和公共信息都有中英文，这使得即使中文水平有限的人也能够比较容易地生活和出行。

Outside Mandarin Inn, Shanghai has signs and announcements in both Mandarin and English, making it easy enough for someone with some English, but little or no Mandarin, to get around.

不过，我在上海也有一个有趣的发现：似乎有不少骑电动车送外卖的司机有红绿色盲。他们好像很难分辨红灯和绿灯。

But a surprise to me in Shanghai has been the unexpectedly high incidence of red-green colour blindness in the delivery drivers on electric scooters. They don’t seem able to distinguish a red light from a green one.

你有没有注意到，在这里“绿灯”的意思似乎是“可以走”，而“红灯”的意思则是“还不用停”？

Have you noticed how green means “go” and red means “don’t stop yet”?

在这样的交通环境中骑自行车，需要时刻保持高度警觉，这倒也颇为刺激。

Riding a bicycle amongst them requires constant concentration and is certainly stimulating!

你的兴趣爱好是什么？

What Are Your Hobbies?

我很喜欢动手制作各种东西。

I love making things.

例如，我会用木头制作牌匾，比如给 Teico 做的“汉语老师”牌子，也会给我的博士生制作纪念牌匾，在他们获得博士学位时送给他们。

Be they wooden plaques for Teico 汉语老师 or for my students when they get their PhD degree.

我也喜欢散步、骑自行车、修建石墙、打理花园、种蔬菜。

I like to walk and cycle, to build dry stone walls, to keep a garden and grow vegetables.

在我们英国的花园里，每年都会结出很多很多苹果。我们会把苹果榨成果汁，其中一部分还会酿成苹果酒。

Each year in our English garden we have many, many apples and so we make apple juice, some of which we turn into cider.

我还喜欢下棋、打桥牌、收集邮票。很多年前，我还会织毛衣，也会做地毯。

I collect postage stamps and long ago, I used to knit sweaters, and make rugs!

最喜欢的一句中文

Favourite Chinese Sentence

我最喜欢

的一句话是：
“活到老，学到老。”

My favourite Chinese sentence is:

It’s never too late to learn.

这句话表达了一种重要的精神：无论我们做什么、身在何处、年龄多大，我们都不应该停止学习。总会有人比我们懂得更多。

These words convey the sentiment that whatever we do, where ever we go and how ever old we are, we never stop learning and there are always people who know more than we do.

关于尼泊尔的一段故事

A Story About Nepal

2015 年尼泊尔发生大地震之后，我在英国筹集了一些资金，然后把这些钱带到了加德满都。

After the great earthquake in Nepal in 2015, I raised money in England and brought this to Kathmandu.

在那里，我和一位刚认识的朋友一起，在批发市场购买了毛毯和衣服，然后雇了一辆车和司机，前往地震受灾严重的 Gorkha 地区。

Together with a friend I made there, I bought blankets and clothes in the wholesale market, hired a driver and vehicle, and set off for the Gorkha region that was badly affected by the quake.

我们把车停在 Trishuli 河谷，然后徒步爬上山，来到一所被地震完全摧毁的学校。

Leaving the vehicle in the valley by the Trishuli river, we climbed up into the hills to a school that was destroyed by the earthquake.

在那里，我非常震撼地看到：尽管学校已经变成一片废墟，孩子们仍然每天来到学校接受教育，老师们也仍然每天来到学校教书。

There I was very greatly impressed to find that despite the destruction, the children still came to school to be educated, and the teachers came to school to educate.

我问这些老师，在这样艰难的环境中，他们是如何保持如此热情的。

I asked the teachers how they managed to maintain such admirable enthusiasm amidst the rubble that once was their school.

他们的回答让我终生难忘：
“是的，今天很艰难，但明天会更好。”

I will never forget the answer:
“Yes, today is difficult, but tomorrow will be a better day.”

这是多么令人敬佩的态度，多么鼓舞人心。

What a wonderful attitude, how inspiring.

这也让我想起中国的一句古老格言：

And that made me remember the Chinese philosophy:

中国在短短七十多年里，对教育投入如此巨大的努力与重视，这让我由衷地敬佩，也更加激励我去学习中文。

And how well China has educated its people in just 76 years. I am full of admiration, and thereby motivation to learn your language.

结语

Closing

Geoffrey 教授在采访的最后引用了一句他非常喜欢的中文：

At the end of his interview, Professor Smith shared one of his favorite Chinese sentences:

“活到老，学到老” — Never stop learning.

这句话或许不仅仅是关于语言学习，也是一种面对世界的态度。

Perhaps this idea goes beyond language learning. It reflects a way of approaching life and the world.

在 Mandarin Inn，我们见过许多不同背景的学习者：有人为了工作，有人为了生活，也有人只是因为对世界保持好奇。

At Mandarin Inn, we meet students from many backgrounds. Some study Chinese for work, some for daily life, and others simply out of curiosity about the world.

而 Geoffrey 教授的故事提醒我们——
学习从来没有真正的终点。

Professor Smith’s story reminds us that learning never truly ends.

有时候，我们是老师；
但在更大的世界里，我们每个人都始终是学生。

Sometimes we are teachers.
But in the larger world, we are always students.

也许正因为如此，语言学习才始终是一件值得认真对待的事情。

And perhaps that is why language learning remains such a meaningful pursuit.

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