Teacher Discussion Forums

Hello!
I've faced a dilemma which I've been trying to find a way out from for quite a time. Maybe, you'll be able to give me a hint which direction to go.
I've been an English teacher for 14 years, worked mostly with adults and young adults. I do love my job, absolutely love lesson planning, I thoroughly enjoy discovering something new and interesting on the net or in books and then implementing it in classes. Ok, I'd better stop...
Well, my students say I'm a good teacher... But... I want to develop, to go further in my career, to work in other countries... That's my dream... Which I can't realise as I'm not a native speaker. I live and work in Russia. And although I've enjoyed every single day of teaching English, I start finding it too predictable, too easy. I've worked at schools, at language schools, even at one of the best unversities in Russia, sometimes even at 2 or 3 places at a time. No challenge anymore...
My students always know I can speak Russian and whatever I've done to pretend otherwise, we all know it's just a game. I look at native speakers - teachers at the language school I'm working for now. What a fantastic experience they're having! Not only are they sampling a different culture, but they are also getting an invaluable teaching experience - their students have no other option but to express themselves only and solely in English and to try hard but understand what the teacher is saying. Mine tend to offend if I don't translate at once something they don't understand. I have to spend a lot of time on explaining why I don't want to use Russian in class...
Well, I set my mind on finding a job abroad. I looked through different sites, sent out resumes. No results. (But 2 scams!)
Now, I'm thinking what to do next and how to make myself competitive on the international ESL/EFL job market. I've got a diploma (a teacher of English) from a university here but as I understand it's not accepted internationally. I've got 3 TKT certificates with the highest band each but it's too far from what's required. I was thinking of getting a TESOL certificate online. Also I was thinking of getting DELTA. Or getting M.A., but am I eligible for it with my diploma? Or......... If I say that I'm in TWO minds that will mean nothing. I'm in ten or more minds!!!
When you worked in other countries, have you ever met non-native teachers of English who weren't from the country where you were working? There've been 2 teachers I met in my current job - one was Italian and another from the Philippines, but they came with their husbands who got jobs in my city. They both were brilliant, professional teachers and earned a lot of respect among their students and colleagues.
And of course, my main question is this. Judging from your experience, what can I do and what should I do to get on that international level of teaching English?

We had a lot of English teachers from Russia when I was in Mongolia. You would need a masters to teach at the University level. The other options are schools and I would recommend a private school. Of course, the pay is small but if you eat their food and the school gives you an apartment, you will have enough to live on. They usually pay fares too after you have worked a year. Of course, some people speak Russian in Mongolia so you might have some of the same problems but the children and teenagers are not so fluent so it should be OK.

But why not just apply as much as you can on jobs on Dave's Job Cafe. It couldn't hurt (it sounds like you know a scam when you hear one). Just chose a place, make up a good resume with references from your students and profs and try.

I wouldn't mention that you are tired of the students there - just that you are eager to try somewhere else and expand your qualifications.

There are courses you can take and then teach - many advertised here on Dave's. You go to Vietnam say, or Spain and take the course and then they get you a job. Turkey seems to be a good place to teach so I have heard and the money is in Saudi Arabia or Yemen.

Sally, thank you very much for your reply! I'd like to talk to you a bit more, so I've sent you a private message.