STILL ALICE TEACHING UNIT
SESSIONS/INPUTS/TASKS
1) September – November
Pages 3-54
INPUT: How does Memory Work?
Ø Video by Lisa Genova: Your
Memory is Lying to You.
GERALDINE GEYER 2022
QUESTIONS
SEPTEMBER: Getting to Know Alice
QUOTES
Who is Alice? What do we get to know about her? (5)
How does she explain her mental hiccup?
What kind of relationship do Alice and Lydia have? (19)
Why is Alice no longer running? (22)
Why doesn’t Alice tell John about her incident while running?
(26)
o Why does Alice think she’s getting menopausal? (28)
o
o
o
o
o
OCTOBER: Eric
o How do Alice’s children differ from each other? (34-37)
NOVEMBER: Chicago
o Read the passage on foreboding (52). Can you empathise with
Alice?
2) December – February
Pages 55-100
DECEMBER: Memories
“Attention, rehearsal, elaboration, or
emotional significance was needed if
perceived information was to be
o Why does it make her feel embarrassed?
o How does Alice feel while browsing through the photo albums? pushed beyond the recent memory
space into longer-term storage, else it
(65)
would be quickly and naturally
o How does Alice test her own memory skills and what does
discarded with the passage of time.”
that tell us about her? (69)
(68)
JANUARY: The Diagnosis
“Okay. In the future, your’re going to
have to bring a family member or
o “The sound of her name penetrated her every cell and seemed to
someone who sees you regularly in
scatter her molecules beyond the boundaries of her own skin. She
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STILL ALICE TEACHING UNIT
INPUT | What Do We Know About
Alzheimer?
o What is Alzheimer? What is
dementia?
o What is the current standard
of knowledge in Alzheimer
research?
GERALDINE GEYER 2022
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o
o
o
o
watched herself from the far corner of the room.” (79) What do
you think of Alice’s reaction to the diagnosis? Why does she
disassociate herself to the extent that she feels she’s having an
out-of-body-experience?
What happens when Alice goes through the Daily Living
Questionnaire? (81-82)
“Everything she did and loved, everything she was, required
language.” (82) Do you think the diagnosis affects Alice more
than other people due to her job as a language Professor?
Why is Alice afraid to tell John about her diagnosis? (88)
Do you think it is natural for Alice to think about suicide? (88)
Why do you think John doesn’t believe Alice? (89)
with you. You’re complaining about a
problem with your memory; you may
not be the most reliable source of
what’s been going on.” She felt
embarrassed, like a child. And his
words “in the future” harassed her
every thought, commanding obsessive
attention, like water dripping from a
faucet.” (60-61)
FEBRUARY: All About John Part I
Ø Ted Talk Part I (00:00-05:00)
3) March – June
Pages 101-159
o How does John behave during the doctor’s consultation? What
do think happens inside him? (93-99)
MARCH: All About John Part II
o Is John’s reaction understandable? Why or why not? Why is he
INPUT: GENETIC TESTING
so appalled by Alice taking the medication?
o “What should I be doing?” (107) What advice would you give
Task: Research Groups
Alice?
o Can you relate to feeling lost in life? (109)
- What can be found out with
genetic testing and when can it be o Read the last paragraph of chapter (111-112). How does Alice
feel about John? Do their experiences match or do they go
used?
through the process differently?
- Are there other ways to prevent
Alzheimer?
APRIL: What About the Family?
“Alice popped open the Monday lid
of her plastic days-of-the-week pill
dispenser and poured the seven little
tablets into her cupped hand. John
marched into the kitchen with
purpose, but seeing what she held, he
spun on his heels and left the room,
as if he’d walked in on his mother
naked. He refused to watch her take
her medications. He could be
midsentence, midconversation, but if
she got out her plastic days-of-theweek pill dispenser, he left the room.
Conversation over.” (101)
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o Why do you think Alice waits so long to tell her children about
her disease?
o Only Lydia decides she doesn’t want to know if she has the
genetic mutation or not. Why out of the three children is she
the only one to decline? Would you want to know if you had
the gene?
o Do you think it is irresponsible of Anna to continue with her
plan to have children, knowing that there is a 50% chance that
she herself will get Alzheimer in the future?
o What do you think about genetic diagnosis of the embryos?
MAY: I Don’t Belong Here
o Alice visits a Nursing Center. How does she feel on the tour?
(123-126)
o Why do you think so few family members visit their loved ones
in a nursing home? (128)
o Do you agree that cancer is a “nobler” disease than
Alzheimer’s?
o What do you think about Alice’s suicide plan? Is this decision
rational or out of character? Why do you think she makes this
difficult decision? How would her family respond if they found
out? Do you see any potential problems with this plan? Are
there alternatives? (132-133)
JUNE: More Drugs
o Do you think Dr. Moyer knows about Alice’s intention? Should
she still prescribe the medication?
o How does Alice’s disease progress? How does it affect her?
o Why do you think John declines support? Does he not need it?
(151)
“They’re going to find a preventative
treatment,” said Anna. (121)
“I’m going to go ahead with the in
vitro. I already talked with my doctor,
and they’re going to do a
preimplantation genetic diagnosis on
the embryos. They’re going to test a
single cell from each of the embryos
for the mutation and only implant
ones that are mutation-free. So, we’ll
know for sure that my kids won’t ever
get this.”
(121-122)
“Despite her self-reproach, she
envied Anna, that she could do what
Alice couldn’t keep her children safe
from harm.” (122)
“She wished she had cancer instead.
She’d trade Alzheimer’s for cancer in
a heartbeat. She felt ashamed for
wishing this, and it was certainly a
pointless bargaining, but she
permitted the fantasy anyway. With
cancer, she’d have something that
she could fight. There was surgery,
radiation, and chemotherapy. There
was the chance that she could win.
Her family and the community at
Harvard would rally behind her battle
and consider it noble. And ever if
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o Do you think it is a good decision to enter the trial or should
Alice have listened to John’s advice? (158)
4) July – September
Pages 160-213
defeated in the end, she’d be able to
look them knowingly in the eye and
say good-bye before she left.
Alzheimer’s disease was an entirely
different kind of beast. There were no
weapons that could slay it. … Right
now, everyone with Alzheimer’s faced
the same outcome, whether they
were eighty-two or fifty, resident of
the Mount Auburn Manor or full
professor of psychology at Harvard
University.” (131)
JULY: Feeling Alive and Happy
o What do you think is the main message of Alice’s moment of
Creative Task: Alice describes how
floating in the sea? (157-158)
Alzheimer’s feels like for her. Write a o Why does Alice starting to feel like a child? (168-169)
Elfchen capturing her experience or
Alzheimer’s in general or create a
AUGUST: Reconnecting
metaphor or simile. (see page180181 for inspiration)
o How would you describe the relationship between Alice and
(Beispiel: Honig im Kopf)
John during their vacation? How does it differ from before?
(185-187)
OR
o How do Alice and Lydia connect with each other? (180-181)
o Why does Alice read her daughter’s diary? Would you do the
Take two A5 sheets and write down
same if you were in her shoes?
two memories:
o Does Alice’s image of her body match with her inner self? (186)
o Why does Alice become so absorbed in Lydia’s play? (195 >
emotions)
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Your most powerful memory
(positive or negative)
The memory you’re most afraid
to lose.
Hand in the two sheets in the next
lesson. The teacher seals your
memories in an envelope and adds
the date on the front. You must wait
five years until you can read them
again. Then repeat the process. (The
teacher will hand out the envelopes on
your last day of school.)
5) October – January
Pages 214-269
INPUT: Caregivers
Group Task
Group A watches the video “While
I’m Still Sue”. Group B watches the
video “A Marriage to Remember”.
GERALDINE GEYER 2022
o “Well, she shouldn’t be relying on that BlackBerry anyway. She
should be exercising her memory whenever we she can,” said
Anna. (193) What does that tell us about Anna?
SEPTEMBER: Loosing More
o Are you surprised to see Alice return to Harvard with her
disease being progressed this far? Why do you think she’s doing
that?
o Did you expect Eric to react dis way? Do you agree with his
proposed steps of action? (204-205)
o How do people react and act around Alice after getting to
know about her health condition?
o Why do people feel embarrassed after Alice doesn’t notice
she’s making the same remark twice? Why does no one say
anything about it? (209-210)
o What does “spending our lives together” mean for John and for
Alice? (211)
o Do you think Alice loves John more than he loves her? (212)
OCTOBER: In Sickness and in Health
o Do you think John is purposely neglecting his running routine
with Alice? What could be his reasons? (220-221)
o Is Alice right about John killing her? (221)
o How does it make John feel to see his wife like this? (223)
o Why is it more difficult for Alice to connect Lydia with the
memories she has about her than with her other children?
(224)
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NOVEMBER: A Meaningless Life
o Make a list of things that worsen Alice’s condition.
DECEMBER: Sacrifices
Group A:
• Discuss your first impressions of
the video. What struck you the
most?
• Summarise the main points of the
video so you can explain to the
other students what it is about.
• Adam is taking care of his mother
Sue. Are there any similarities
between Adam and Sue vs Alice
and her daughters?
• What are Adam’s biggest fears?
• Can you find parallels between
Sue and Alice? (show text
passages)
Group B:
o Alice can no longer trust her perception. Is it responsible to
leave her on her own all day?
o Is John aware of his wife’s true state of health? Is he willingly
ignoring it? (244)
o Would you support John’s wishes to go to New York and
taking Alice with him or his daughter’s wishes to have their
mother stay in Harvard? (250-251)
o Is John being selfish? What sacrifices has he made so far? (252)
o Alice’s sole wish was to have one last year with John. Why do
you think John has other priorities? (252)
o Why is Alice so emotional about losing her BlackBerry? (269)
JANUARY: The Last Shot
o Do you think Alzheimer’s affects emotions of love? (258)
o Why is it easier for Alice to talk to her daughter than to her
husband? (260)
o What examples are there of people still respecting Alice’s
wishes, and at what times is she ignored?
o Can you empathise with John’s reasoning why he doesn’t want
a year off with Alice? Is his work more important to him or is it
just an easy way out not having to face his wife’s worsening
condition? (263)
o Is John honouring Alice’s quality of living?
Ø Partly unreliable perspective (Alice) vs missing
perspective (John)
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•
•
•
•
GERALDINE GEYER 2022
Discuss your first impressions of
the video. What struck you the
most?
Summarise the main points of the
video so you can explain to the
other students what it is about.
How is Ed different from John?
What are
advantages/disadvantages of their
ways to deal with Alzheimer’s
disease?
Can you see parallels between
Pam and Alice? (text passages or
table)
6. February – Epilogue
Pages 270- 327
INPUT: How to Prevent Alzheimer’s
Disease
Ø Ted Talk Part II
FEBRUARY: Still Alive Inside
o How does the Doctor act with Alice compared to John? (272274, 278)
o What does the Dr. mean when he calls Alice “incredibly
bright”? (274, synapses talk Genova)
o Do you think John wants Alice to decline more rapidly so he
can move to New York? (275)
o Why doesn’t John seek any support? What kind of help would
John need? (277)
“He looked at her with tears in his
eyes and a clenched smile that
confused her.” (278)
“… with an unmistakable love in his
eyes and joy in his smile …” (285)
MARCH: Losing My Yesterdays
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Creative Task:
Alice is fascinated by the letter to
herself she doesn’t remember
writing. You are going to write a
letter as well. Choose one of the
following options. The letters won’t
be read in class but only by your
teacher.
-
-
-
-
Beside her own letter Alice opens
another document which is from you.
What would you like to tell her? You
know that Alice struggles with reading.
How could you adapt/deliver the
document so she can understand it
better?
Take the perspective of either John,
Lydia or Anna and think about what
they want Alice to know about
themselves or their relationship. Then
record yourself as this character and
create a video message for Alice.
Write a letter to your future self –
where are you now, what do you want
your future self to know and/or
remember? Record yourself reading the
letter out loud.
Write a letter by hand to a beloved
person (passed on or alive) and tell
them something you need them to
know.
GERALDINE GEYER 2022
o What do you think is the key message of Alice’s speech? What
does she want her audience to understand?
APRIL: Rational vs Emotional
o Do you think it is important that Alice got to meet her
grandchildren? Why? (289)
o How has the relationship between Alice and Lydia changed
since the beginning of the story? (290-291)
o Do you think Lydia and Anna are right about the fact that it is
better if Alice is taken care of by her family instead of
strangers? Also think about Genova’s Ted Talk, would she
agree? (293)
o What does John imply by this: “If she got everything she
unilaterally wanted, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.”
(294)
o When should we decide rationally and when emotionally? (295)
MAY: Something Chocolate
o Why is John asking Alice these questions? Does he know?
o What would he have done if Alice said that she no longer
wants to be here?
JUNE: The Kind Stranger
o Is it tragic or lucky that Alice can no longer execute her plan?
o What are 5 lessons you have learned so far or someone else
has passed on to you? (307)
o Alice is no longer able to finish big. Think of an alternative
ending for the story where the drugs would have slowed down
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the progression of her illness. How could Alice have finished
big?
o Think about your own life. Imagine yourself in old age. What
would make you happy or proud looking back on your life.
How could you finish big?
o Alice no longer recognizes John. How do you think the story
will end?
SUMMER 2005: I Miss Myself
o Other people might call Alice crazy for destroying the mirrors.
Why does make sense in her perspective?
o Alice covers the defective with paint. What could this stand
for?
o How do you think it makes John feel when Alice recognises
him again?
o Do you think it is possible for Alzheimer’s patients to
experience clear moments like that? (relate to Genova talk)
SEPTEMBER 2005:
o Why does Genova choose to end the novel with John reading
that Amylix, the medicine that Alice was taking, failed to
stabilise Alzheimer’s patients? Why does this news cause John
to cry?
o What do you think happens to John after this?
EPILOGUE:
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o How does Alice perceive her environment?
o Do you think she is happy? How do you know?
o How does Alice react to Anna’s acting? What does that tell
you?
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