A computer-aided reading system offers assistance to a user who is reading in a non-native language, as the user needs help, without requiring the user to divert attention away from the text. In one implementation, the reading system is implemented as a reading wizard for a browser program. The reading wizard is exposed via a graphical user interface (UI) that allows the user to select a word, phrase, sentence, or other grouping of words in the non-native text. The reading wizard automatically determines whether the selected one word comprises part of a phrase; allows the user to choose whether to view a translation of a single word or a translation of a phrase that includes the single word in response to selection by the user of the single word. The multiple translations are presented in a pop-up window, in the form of a scrollable box and is scrollable, located near the selected text to minimize distraction of the user.