This study examined the impact of students’ self-confidence on their engagement in Basic Language Skills classes at UIN Ar-Raniry, specifically focusing on speaking skills. It aimed to understand how confidence influenced classroom participation and identify factors that contributed to low confidence levels among English education students. Utilizing a qualitative research approach, 6 (six) students from the 2024 who enrolled in Basic Language Skills class were purposively selected, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that self-efficacy and self-esteem (internal factors) and a supportive classroom atmosphere (external factor) significantly influenced students’ confidence. Furthermore, students employed strategies such as pre-learning preparation, positive self-talk, and peer support and collaboration, which collectively enhanced their confidence, enabled more active participation, and improved their speaking skills. This study underscored the importance of self-confidence in fostering classroom engagement and recommended future research to explore this relationship in diverse educational contexts.