The study investigates the speaking anxiety experienced by first-year Englishmajors. 152 first-year English majors at a public university in Hanoi participated in thequestionnaire. The results show that participants had a medium level of English-speakinganxiety. Factors contributing to this anxiety include students’ negative self-assessment ofability, self-comparison to others, fear of negative evaluation, fear of being in public, andshyness. Additionally, the nature of teachers' questions, lack of preparedness, and beliefsabout native speakers or instructors also contribute to speaking anxiety. The study highlightsthat students experienced higher anxiety during presentations compared to group discussionsor paired interviews. Besides, the majority of first-year students believed that instructors’behavior and characteristics would play a significant role in reducing their speaking anxietyin class. The study offers valuable insights into students’ speaking anxiety for Englishlecturers to support students in managing speaking anxiety effectively.The study investigates the speaking anxiety experienced by first-year Englishmajors. 152 first-year English majors at a public university in Hanoi participated in thequestionnaire. The results show that participants had a medium level of English-speakinganxiety. Factors contributing to this anxiety include students’ negative self-assessment ofability, self-comparison to others, fear of negative evaluation, fear of being in public, andshyness. Additionally, the nature of teachers' questions, lack of preparedness, and beliefsabout native speakers or instructors also contribute to speaking anxiety. The study highlightsthat students experienced higher anxiety during presentations compared to group discussionsor paired interviews. Besides, the majority of first-year students believed that instructors’behavior and characteristics would play a significant role in reducing their speaking anxietyin class. The study offers valuable insights into students’ speaking anxiety for Englishlecturers to support students in managing speaking anxiety effectively.