Motivational Drivers and Learning Strategies in Reading: A Study of Iraqi EFL University Students

This study aims to explore the motivation kind that Iraqi university learners rely on during reading comprehension lectures, and the motivational learning strategies they employ to understand the given English texts while reading them. Adopting a descriptive research design, data were collected through the MSL survey from a sample of 170 second-year students at the Department of English, University of Mosul, Iraq. The results revealed that the learners were primarily driven by external motives, such as academic recognition and obtaining grades more than by internal ones like self-enjoyment and reading interest. Furthermore, the findings indicated that learners show a low confidence in their English reading skills. Regarding learning strategies, the findings showed that students use practical, hands-on techniques (like rehearsing words or connecting the text to their own life) more frequently than strategies for managing their own learning (like planning how to approach a text or checking their understanding as they read).The implications of these findings are discussed with reference to curriculum designers and teachers, highlighting the need to foster intrinsic motivation and enhance strategic reading competence among learners.Keywords: Reading Motivation, Learning Strategies, EFL Learners, Reading Comprehension, University Students.