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Checkmate Your Boredom: Duolingo Adds Chess Course to its Repertoire

Duolingo, the language-learning platform known for its persistent owl mascot and gamified approach, is branching out once again. Get ready to sharpen your strategic thinking and command the board – Duolingo is launching a chess course!

Forget conjugating verbs for a moment; soon you’ll be calculating knight forks and planning your checkmate strategy. This new addition promises to bring Duolingo’s signature engaging learning style to the world of chess, making it more accessible than ever before.

Duolingo Chess

A New Skill Unlocks on Duolingo

For years, Duolingo has been synonymous with language acquisition. But in recent times, the platform has expanded its horizons, offering courses in subjects like music and math. The addition of chess represents another step in this evolution, transforming Duolingo into a more comprehensive skill-building platform.

This move is a strategic one, capitalizing on the platform’s existing user base and proven learning methodology to attract a new audience interested in honing their chess skills. It also reinforces Duolingo’s commitment to providing accessible education in a variety of domains.

How the Duolingo Chess Course Works

So, how will Duolingo teach you the intricacies of chess? The platform plans to utilize its familiar bite-sized lessons and interactive exercises to guide users through the fundamentals of the game. Expect to encounter:

  • Short, Focused Puzzles: The course will feature puzzles designed to reinforce specific chess concepts. These might involve moving a knight to a strategically important square or executing a checkmate in a limited number of moves.
  • Mini-Matches and Full Games: You’ll have the opportunity to test your skills in practice games against Duolingo’s Oscar character, who will also serve as your coach throughout the lessons. This provides a safe and supportive environment to experiment with different strategies and learn from your mistakes.
Duolingo Chess UI

Accessibility is Key

Duolingo’s core philosophy is to make learning accessible to everyone. This principle extends to the chess course, which is designed to cater to a wide range of skill levels.

According to Duolingo group product manager Edwin Bodge, the team’s primary goal was to “make chess as accessible as possible.” Whether you’re a complete beginner who doesn’t know the difference between a rook and a bishop, or a seasoned player looking to brush up on your tactics, the course will offer lessons tailored to your specific needs.

More Than Just Languages

The addition of chess to Duolingo’s curriculum highlights the platform’s evolving identity. While language learning remains its core focus, Duolingo is clearly exploring opportunities to expand into other areas of education.

Courses like music and math already demonstrate this diversification, and the chess course further solidifies Duolingo’s position as a multi-faceted learning platform. This strategic shift allows Duolingo to tap into new markets and attract a broader audience, ensuring its continued growth and relevance in the ever-changing landscape of online education.

When Can You Start Playing?

Eager to try your hand at the Duolingo chess course? Here’s what you need to know about its availability:

  • Beta Testing: The course is currently launching in beta testing on iOS devices in English.
  • Expanded Rollout: Duolingo plans to expand access to more iOS users within four to six weeks.
  • Android and Other Languages: Following the iOS rollout, the course will be released on Android devices and translated into other languages.

So, if you’re an iOS user with a penchant for chess, keep an eye out for the beta release. And if you’re on Android or prefer learning in a different language, you won’t have to wait too long to join the fun.

What’s Next for Duolingo?

The launch of the chess course raises an interesting question: what other games or skills might Duolingo tackle in the future?

When asked about the possibility of building courses around other games, Duolingo staff software engineer Sammi Siegel stated that they “don’t have any plans to share right now.” However, she added that the company is “just seeing how this launch goes and then we’ll go from there.”

This suggests that Duolingo is open to exploring new avenues for expanding its educational offerings. Depending on the success of the chess course, we could potentially see the platform venture into other areas like coding, puzzle-solving, or even strategy games.

A Smart Move for Duolingo

Duolingo’s decision to add a chess course is a clever move that aligns with its mission of making education accessible and engaging. By leveraging its established platform and gamified learning approach, Duolingo is poised to attract a new audience and further solidify its position as a leading online learning provider.

So, get ready to dust off your chessboards and prepare to learn a new skill in the most entertaining way possible. Duolingo’s chess course is coming soon, and it promises to be a checkmate for boredom!

Source: The Verge

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