If at all possible, you should be reading text where you can read at least 96% of the words. When you meet an unknown word, the context should then give you a good idea of it's meaning. This is the main way in which vocabulary develops, and you shouldn't need translation aids that much.

 

However, sometimes there just isn't enough background information, and the unknown word can be important for understanding the rest of the text.

 

When this happens, you could use a physical dictionary. BUT this is quite slow and destroys the continuity of your reading. It also distracts you from the meaning which you are constructing - see Background Theory

 

It is therefore really useful to have a very rapid translation service, which can give you the meaning of most unknown words.

 

Qtranslate

 

Download here. Windows only, I'm afraid.

 

This is an amazing tool. It is free and rapidly translates the word or phrase you are interested in.
Even more, it can speak the text to you, and also gives the options of different translation services (you have to hunt around with some unusual words).

This tool will work with almost any form of text – Word, Kindle, Acrobat Reader,  various Browsers, etc. It only fails with a few  things which have been dynamically generated.

It does however depend on an internet connection, as it uses a number of online sources. When I am offline, I use Kindle with the reader, or the phone app. – see further down.

 

How to use it:

Once set up properly (see below), you just have to click on (highlight) a word, or highlight a phrase using ‘click and drag’. The translation comes up immediately as a ‘popup’, which goes away when you move your mouse.

If you move your cursor over the popup, then the translation sources are shown at the bottom, and you can try out other sources. I personally tend to leave it on Google.

At the top right of the popup are various options, including a set of headphones to listen to the text being spoken. Once again, I like Google, but the Yandex one is also good.

The main reason for using Qtranslate is when reading, to quickly get the meaning of a word, without interfering with the flow of what you are doing.

How to install and configure Qtranslate on windows 10:

 

1. 1) Download the installation program – currently Qtranslate.6.1.0.exe
3. 2) Install and accept all of the suggested settings – shortcut on desktop, path + run Qtranslate
4. 3) The Qtranslate window will now come up
1. - Change left Auto-Detect to French
2. - Change right Auto-Detect(English-Russian) to English
3. - Close the window
5. 4) Bottom left ‘start’ button in windows
6. 5) Choose ‘settings’ – cog shaped icon
7. 6) In ‘find a setting’ type ‘taskbar’
8. 7) In Search results, choose ‘select which icons appear on the taskbar’
9. 8) Set Qtranslate to ‘On’, and close down this window
10. 9) Icon should now be on taskbar at bottom right
11. 10) Right click on this symbol
12. 11) Up to Mouse Mode, then select enabled
13. 12) Right click on Qtranslate symbol again
14. 13) Up to Mouse Mode, then select ‘show translation’.

If you want to hear the translation at the same time, then select ‘show translation and read’.

To use the Qtranslate tool

If the icon is not on the taskbar, then double click on the (large) desktop icon
Click on the (small) taskbar icon, to switch it on (goes green) or off (goes black)

 

Kindle

 

Use a dictionary with your Kindle, or with the Kindle phone app.

 

When using your Kindle, you can load up a French to English dictionary, and point the system to this. When you select a word, it will automatically give you the English translation for this.
Useful when you just want to use your Kindle, and have no internet.

The Robert and Collins French to English dictionary, (advanced level, optimised for Kindle) has the best Amazon ratings and is the one I use. You can get it by searching on the Kindle/Amazon store.

 

To use this,  you need to set it as default.

Once you have acquired it and have it on your Kindle, go to your Kindle’s Home screen (press the “Home” button).
- “Menu” – then choose settings
- Press the “Menu” button again.
- Move the controller to underline the dictionary you want to use and select.

There's a complete guide to the different Kindles, and how to set up the dictionary here.

 

 

Kindle on a smartphone:

Tap on the word you want to translate, and it will give you a dictionary entry. At the bottom of the popup widow, you can change the dictionnary - it will give you a list to choose from, including any you have downloaded (again, I use the Robert and Collins).

 

Microsoft Word

 

Free with the program.

 

In 2007, you apparently select ‘Review’, then in the Proofing section, select ‘Translation Screen Tip’. Then choose ‘English’. When you hover over a word, it will now give you a French to English dictionary entry.

However, I have Office 2010, and cannot make it work at all. It may vary for different versions, and it looks as though it may have changed to become a Mini Translator, but it is not at all clear.

 

This appears to be the same for Office 365, and the instructions are given here.