The present study is concerned with sources of speaking anxiety on the basis of learners’ responses presented in the survey questionnaire and in the informal interview. The quantitative questionnaire first examined the existence of speaking anxiety and factors causing students’ anxiety when speaking English. The qualitative interview further looked at sources of students speaking anxiety. A total of 135 tenth form students at Nguyen Quan Nho high school, Thanh Hoa province participated in the survey. The results showed that the tendency of students’ nervousness was obvious. Based on students’ explanations, factors viewed as causing anxiety was divided into four categories: the content of the lessons, communication apprehension, test anxiety and fear of negative feedback. From the students’ suggestions in the interview, the researcher proposed some strategies for students and teachers to ameliorate negative effects of speaking anxiety. It is also hoped that this research will be of some help to Vietnamese learners and teachers in general in having a better understanding of the nature of FLA and speaking anxiety in particular to improve the teaching and learning of English
