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Translation and Foreign Language Learning

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ArticleInterdisciplinary Studies of Translation http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/tfll.2026.02.016

The Application of Knowledge Structuring in University Students’ Post-editing: Challenges and Countermeasures

Liang Yan

Faculty of Humanities and Foreign Languages, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710054, Shaanxi, China.

*Corresponding author: Liang Yan

1. Xi’an University of Technology education and teaching reform research project: “Construction and Practice of the ‘Integration of Courses and Competitions’ Model in English Translation Teaching from the Perspective of Intelligent Collaboration” (Project No.: xzx2414); 2. Xi’an University of Technology humanities and social sciences research special project: “Research on Cultural Communication in Xi’an Qujiang and Translation Strategies for Tang Poetry” (Project No.: 2019RY001).
Published: February 28, 2026

Abstract

With the popularization of generative artificial intelligence, knowledge structuring has emerged as a central mechanism for optimizing post-editing quality and fostering critical thinking. It functions as both a theoretical foundation and a practical tool for cognitive learning in translation, thereby becoming a focal point of translation education reform. Nevertheless, systematic research on university students’ post-editing practices remains scarce. Against this backdrop, this paper first elucidates the concept of knowledge structuring, summarizes its four main characteristics—hierarchical systematization, generalized scenario adaptation, low-threshold transferability and broad applicability, and emergent cognitive benefits—and discusses the limitations arising from framework homogenization. Then, the article delves into real-world challenges faced by university students in post-editing from the following four aspects, respectively are students’ own cognition, interference from large language models, the construction of professional knowledge systems, and supporting teaching infrastructure. With regard to the two dilemmas, that is “not knowing how to revise” and “inadequate revision” in post-editing, this paper offers some countermeasures. To be more precise, the countermeasures are organized within a three-level framework, including techno-logical upgrading, stratified content adaptation, and the development of localized teaching support frameworks. Finally, this study outlines future pathways for university students. These pathways are from experiential revision to structured reasoning. And it is driven by the goal of improving the quality of student translators’ cultivation and the digital smart transformation in the translation education.

Keyword

post-editing; knowledge structuring; student translators; response countermeasures

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Copyright

© 2026 by the author(s).
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license, which permits non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not modified or adapted.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

How to cite this paper

The Application of Knowledge Structuring in University Students’ Post-editing: Challenges and Countermeasures

How to cite this paper: Liang Yan. (2026). The Application of Knowledge Structuring in University Students’ Post-editing: Challenges and Countermeasures. Translation and Foreign Language Learning2(2), 286-296.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/tfll.2026.02.016