Research in second or foreign language learning indicates that for adult learners, the improvement of one language skill
facilitates the development of other skills. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations among Chinese
EFL students’ reading, writing, and listening development by examining their test scores on the College English Test
Band 4. The findings showed that the resultant correlation coefficients between reading and writing and between
reading and listening were low and not statistically significant. However, there was a significant relationship between
listening and writing. It was suggested that factors such as the homogeneous sample selected, students’ motivation, and
teaching methodology might affect the outcome of the research. The perceived implications of the research point to the
importance of drawing close attention to teachers’ efforts in cultivating and developing students’ language skills evenly
in the EFL context of China.
Keywords: Language skill development, Correlation, Reading, Writing, Listening, Chinese students