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Jumat, 21 November 2025

Hot Potatoes (JCloze )


Digital Gap-Fill Activities: Optimizing Learning with JCloze

1. What is JCloze?

JCloze is one component of the Hot Potatoes software package used to create gap-fill exercises (texts with missing words). Students are asked to fill in missing words based on context. The program automatically checks answers, provides hints, scores the result, and displays the score.



Gap-fill exercises are very common in English teaching because they effectively train:

  • vocabulary

  • grammar

  • contextual understanding

  • sentence structure

BEFORE CONTINUE TO MATERIAL,LETS SEE A EXAMPLE JCLOZE IN LEARNING

2. Main Functions of JCloze

JCloze is used to:

  • Train students to recognize appropriate words in a text.

  • Help students understand paragraph context.

  • Test vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension simultaneously.

  • Provide automatic evaluation for teachers and students.

3. Advantages of JCloze

  • Automatically checks students’ answers.

  • Easy to use without coding.

  • Accepts multiple correct answers for a single gap.

  • Can provide hints.

  • Supports multimedia (images, audio) to make exercises more engaging.

  • Outputs HTML files that open in any browser.

4. How JCloze Works

The workflow for creating exercises in JCloze:

Steps:

  1. The teacher prepares the full text.

  2. The teacher opens JCloze and pastes the text into the editor.

  3. The teacher selects the words to remove and turns them into gaps.

  4. For each gap the teacher can:

    • enter the main answer

    • add alternative answers (optional)

    • add hints (optional)

  5. The teacher adds instructions for students.

  6. The teacher saves the project and exports it as HTML.

  7. The HTML file can be opened on laptops, phones, or uploaded to an LMS.

5. Important Components in JCloze

a. Gap (empty word)

The word(s) removed from the text for students to fill in.

b. Acceptable Answers / Alternative Answers

Alternate answers the system will accept.

Example:
gap = small
alternatives = little, tiny

c. Clue (hint)

A hint that appears when a student presses the “Hint” button.

d. Feedback

Automatic messages for correct or incorrect answers.

e. Score & Checking

After students finish, JCloze automatically:

  • counts correct answers

  • computes a percentage

  • displays the score

6. Pedagogical Principles for Designing JCloze

To make exercises effective, teachers should consider:

a. Choose meaningful words

For example:

  • adjectives

  • verbs

  • prepositions

  • descriptive words

  • key vocabulary in the paragraph

b. Don’t make too many gaps

Ideal: 20–30% of total words.

c. Provide alternative answers

English often has synonyms and acceptable variations.

d. Adjust difficulty by level

  • Elementary: basic adjectives, objects, colors.

  • Intermediate: more detailed vocabulary, prepositions.

  • Advanced: collocations, phrasal verbs, complex adjectives.


Part 2: JCloze Application Example in English Teaching (Descriptive Text)

Now that the theory is clear, here is a ready-to-use example for teaching Descriptive Text.

Example Descriptive Text for JCloze: “My Favorite Pet”

Original Text (no gaps)

My favorite pet is a small cat named Milo. He has soft white fur and bright blue eyes. Milo likes to sleep on my bed and follow me around the house. He is very friendly and he always plays with his toy mouse. In the morning, Milo sits near the window and watches the birds outside. He makes my home feel warm and lively.

JCloze Version (words suggested as gaps)

Recommended gaps for the teacher:

  1. small

  2. soft

  3. bright

  4. friendly

  5. morning

  6. watches

  7. lively

The teacher simply selects these words in the JCloze editor and marks them as gaps.

Alternative Answers (to enter into JCloze)

  1. small | little | tiny

  2. soft | smooth

  3. bright | shiny

  4. friendly | kind

  5. morning | dawn

  6. watches | observes | looks at

  7. lively | cheerful | energetic

Instruction Displayed to Students

Fill the gaps with the most suitable words based on context. This is a descriptive text about a pet. Pay attention to adjectives and verbs.

Example Learning Objectives (KD / TP)

  • Students can understand a descriptive text about animals.

  • Students can recognize descriptive adjectives in context.

  • Students can complete a gap-fill exercise using appropriate vocabulary.

Example 45-minute Lesson Using JCloze

A. Pre-Activity (5 minutes)

  • Teacher introduces the topic: “Descriptive Text: Describing Pets.”

  • Activate key vocabulary: small, soft, friendly, lively.

B. While-Activity (JCloze Activity – 25 minutes)

  1. Teacher provides the JCloze HTML exercise.

  2. Students read the text first.

  3. Students fill in the gaps one by one.

  4. Students check the automatic score.

  5. Students repeat until they reach ≥ 80% (if desired).

C. Post-Activity (15 minutes)

  • Discuss common mistakes and tricky vocabulary.

  • Students write 3 new descriptive sentences about a different animal.

  • Short presentations (optional).

Benefits of Using JCloze for Descriptive Text

  • Trains students to identify adjectives used in descriptions.

  • Teaches word meaning in context.

  • Provides fast, automated practice and feedback.

  • Helps students self-correct and learn independently.


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