ESL courses refer to the training programs provided to the non-native English speakers in English speaking countries such as USA and Canada. Through almost a year's class observation and interview with teachers and students from Iowa State University (ISU), a large Midwestern Research University, the author conducted a study on the teaching philosophy and curriculum of its ESL education. Based on this understanding and the current situation of EFL teaching, the author analyzes the differences between ESL and EFLand proposes the experience drawn from ESL teaching for EFL curriculum in China.