Аннотация:Abstract. The study compares performance and eye-movement indicators in stu-dents from Russia, Japan, and China when searching for English words among randomly organized letters. The assumption was that social and linguistic expe-rience affects visual scanning strategies and cognitive processing of verbal ma-terial. The study involved 64 respondents, demonstrating similar levels of Eng-lish proficiency. Eye movements were recorded with SMI Gaze & Eye-tracking System (SMIRED 250Hz). Russian respondents were the most successful at per-forming the task. Presumably, their success is determined by the experience in analyzing letter strings during sequential cognitive processing. Significant differ-ences between the groups were established for both fixation duration and sac-cadic amplitude that describe the characteristics of cognitive processing (Veli-chkovsky et al., 2005). The Russian sample was characterized by high fixation durations (m = 239.5ms) and low saccade amplitudes (m = 4.1°), demonstrating the focal pattern of attention distribution. The opposite trend toward ambient and gliding type of processing was recorded in the Japanese sample. In addition, the parameters of intersaccadic angles and saccade directions were analyzed. Return saccades were most characteristic of the Japanese group with direction changes in the range of 90-135°. Russian students demonstrated saccades of a sequential pattern in the range of 0-45°. Chinese students considered letter sets only once showing the smallest number of return saccades (the range of 135-180°). Based on the results of this study, the basic characteristics of visual semantic search can be associated with the first language experience that defines the patterns and the architecture of cognitive processing.