Among the different challenges that the English Major faces is the reading and writing crisis in this new developmental phase of China. The crisis happens in relation to the age of information, and yet it is rooted in linguistics and language teaching. This paper pinpoints that the crisis mirrors the loss of excellent traditions in foreign language education and reflects misconceptions of the role of reading and writing in cultivating high-quality English learners. In order to resolve the crisis, it is suggested that what is to be done is to rebuild up the due status of reading and writing, to counterbalance the relationship between reading/writing and listening/speaking in teaching practice and, moreover, to improve the quality of English learners by placing a high value on the training of reading and writing abilities.