Iranian EFL Learners’ Use of Condolence Expressions in English: From Pragmatic Awareness to Intercultural Sensitivity Mohammad Ghazanfari1, Nasim Boustani2, Zahra Seyednozadi3 1, 2, 3 Ferdowsi university of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran ABSTRACT This study aimed to achieve a four-fold purpose: First, identifying English native speakers’ and EFL learners’ condolence speech patterns based on Samavarchi and Allami’s -2012- framework; second, determining EFL learners’ intercultural sensitivity competence based on Chen and Starosta’s -2000- scale; third, identifying the extent to which EFL learners’ speech acts would match those of their English-speaking counterparts; and finally, establishing a statistical account of the extent of association between intercultural sensitivity and the focused speech act. Thus, a modified version of condolence DCT designed by Samavarchi and Allami -2012- was applied to 30 advanced Iranian EFL learners. It addressed Brown and Levinson’s -1987- variables of power -i.e., high, low & equal- and social distance -i.e., strange & intimate-. To come up with an accurate condolence pattern, the researchers asked 10 American native speakers to participate in this study and answer the same DCT via email. To fulfill the purposes of the study, Intercultural Sensitivity Scale -ISS; Chen & Starosta, 2000- was also conducted. It explores interaction enjoyment, attentiveness and engagement among the participants. On the basis of descriptive as well as statistical analyses, the results suggested differences and similarities in the natives and non-natives’ frequency of speech patterns. Besides, the results indicated a direct positive correlation between ISS and the application of DCT. The implication is that the mere identification of speech acts is not enough and EFL learners should comprehend the discursive practice going on in the situation. Keywords: Pragmatic Awareness; Condolence Speech Act; Intercultural Sensitivity

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