ESL, or English as a Second Language, is an academic curriculum that focuses on developing English speaking and comprehension skills in students who do not speak it natively. Spelling, reading, writing, and vocabulary are common focus areas.

The Philippines, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a sovereign state in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. English is one of the official languages of the Philippines and is a mandatory subject in all schools.

A course is the study of a particular topic within a wider subject area and is the foundation of a qualification. A typical course includes lectures, assessments and tutorials.