Lesson: The Statue of Liberty

A. Picture Discussion (Picture not provided)

Look at the picture and discuss it in pairs:

1. Do you know what it is?
2. Discuss what stands out in the picture.
3. Do you think it is a man or a woman?

(Note: Please refer to the picture provided with your original lesson materials.)

B. Listening (Audio not provided)

Read the questions first. Then listen to the audio about the Statue of Liberty and answer the following questions.

(Note: Please refer to the audio provided with your original lesson materials.)

1. Where is the Statue of Liberty located?
2. Which country gave the statue as a gift?
3. Which country was the gift intended for?
4. On what occasion was it given?
5. When was the statue given?
6. What does the statue represent?

C. Listening and Chart Completion (Audio not provided)

Listen to the audio again and complete the chart:

(Note: Please refer to the audio provided with your original lesson materials.)

| Statue of Liberty | Information | |--------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | Situated | | | Artist | | | Gift from | | | Reason for the gift | | | Presented on | | | Occasion | | | Symbolizes | | | Framework | | | Copper used | | | Weight | | | UNESCO | |

D. Reading

A Symbol of Freedom: The Statue of Liberty

French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was commissioned to design and complete a sculpture titled Liberty Enlightening the World by 1876. It was intended as a gift for the Americans to commemorate the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence. The statue was a joint effort between the USA and France. The French people would build the statue and assemble it in the United States, and the Americans would build the pedestal for the statue.

Fundraising for the pedestal was completed in August 1885, and construction of the pedestal was finished in April 1886. Meanwhile, France completed the statue in July 1884 and shipped it to New York aboard the French warship Isère in 1885. During transportation, the statue was disassembled into 350 pieces and packed into 214 crates.

It took four months to reassemble the statue and place it on the pedestal. Thousands of people witnessed the unveiling ceremony of the Statue of Liberty on October 28, 1886. It was a centennial gift, ten years late.

The freedom that the Statue represents is not stationary. The broken chain wrapped around her feet, protruding from the bottom of her robe, symbolizes her free forward movement, enlightening the world with her torch, signifying freedom from oppression and slavery.

The statue's original torch was the first part constructed in 1876. It was replaced by a new copper torch covered in 24K gold leaf in 1984. The torch is illuminated by floodlights at night. The original torch is currently located in the monument’s lobby. Access to the torch has been closed since 1916.

(Picture: A close-up view of the Statue of Liberty's torch)

From October 28, 2011, on her 125th anniversary, the Statue of Liberty was also called Liberty Enlightening the World Wide Web. This was made possible by a series of new webcams placed around her torch. Several amazing views are now just a click away. On clear days, three cameras provide unobstructed views of scenes far and near. Two cameras provide an ultra-wide-angle interactive view of the famous golden torch. The remaining camera looks downwards towards the crown of the Statue of Liberty, her face, and the tablet she holds. Therefore, people can now access a live feed of the Statue of Liberty from anywhere in the world.

Questions:

1. On what occasion did the French government give the Statue of Liberty to the USA?
2. When did the statue arrive at its destination?
3. How was it transported?
4. How has new technology made it possible for people to see the statue from anywhere in the world?
5. What do you understand by the expression “enlightening the world”?