The two cultures in Australian ELICOS: Industry managers respond to English language school teachers

Abstract

This article reports on a qualitative study that sought to understand managers' perceptions of teachers' professional identities in the Australian ELICOS sector. The study found that there is a powerful, socially imagined 'wall' that divides two cultures in the sector: the managers on the one hand, and the teachers on the other. While generally unproblematic in operational, marketing, and sales terms, the continued existence and ongoing strengthening of this wall is shown to be counter productive to the sector's desire for improving quality. As a result, there is a need to address structural issues rather than simply continuing with a quality enhancement model that hopes to inspire teachers to undertake professional development.