Foreign Language Keyboards

Unless otherwise specified, these instructions are general and should work for any language that the operating system provides for. This includes, but is not limited to Russian, Japanese, Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese, and Korean.

Note:Some languages offer more than one keyboard. The QWERTY option given for some languages is a phonetic keyboard and may be easier to use. We suggest selecting both keyboards and trying them out.

If you would like to have a map of the keyboard (so you know which keys produce which characters) and/or you would like a palette of all of the characters available at a given time, follow the instructions for your operating system to enable the On-screen Keyboard.

Instructions for Enabling Foreign Keyboards

• Mac OS X
• Windows 7,Windows XP
• Chrome OS(on a Chromebox or Chromebook)

Additional Resources

• 在外语写作- Wellesley research guide with language-specific information
• Typing Accents & Special Characters- Penn State University documentation
• Typing International Accent Marks and Diacritics- External site including help for mobile systems

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Macintosh OS X (10.8 or higher)

For 10.9 and higher:

1. From theApplemenu (the apple icon on the top left of the screen), chooseSystem Preferences.
2. SelectKeyboard.
3. Select theInput Sourcestab.
4. 按k the "+" button under the list of inputs.
5. 通过滚动h the list in the window that opens. Select the language and keyboard you'd like to use and clickAdd.
6. 按k the checkbox next toShow Input menu in menu bar.

   Note:A US flag should now be visible next to the volume in the top right of the screen. Click on this icon to select a different keyboard. When you want to change back to English, just select the American flag. If the language you would like to use is not selectable from this menu, it means the application you are using does not support typing in this language.
   

7. To enable the on-screen keyboard:
   
   1. Go toSystem Preferences > Keyboard(if not already there).
   2. On theKeyboardtab, check the box next toShow Keyboard & Character Viewers in menu bar.
   3. 按k the flag icon in the upper right of the screen and selectShow Keyboard Viewerfrom the dropdown menu.

For 10.8 through 10.10:

1. From theApplemenu (the apple icon on the top left of the screen), chooseSystem Preferences.
2. SelectLanguage & Text.
3. Select theInput Sourcestab.
4. 通过滚动h the list and check the language that you would like to set up.
5. Select theShow Input menu in menu barcheckbox.

   Note:A US flag should now be visible next to the volume in the top right of the screen. Click on this icon to select a different keyboard. When you want to change back to English, just select the American flag. If the language you would like to use is not selectable from this menu, it means the application you are using does not support typing in this language.
   

6. To enable the on-screen keyboard:
   
   1. Go toSystem Preferences > Language & Text(if not already there).
   2. On theInput Sourcestab, check the box next toKeyboard & Character Viewer.
   3. 按k the flag icon in the upper right of the screen and selectShow Keyboard Viewerfrom the dropdown menu.

Windows 7

1. ChooseStart>Control Panel.
2. UnderClock, Language, and Region, chooseChange keyboards or other input methods.
   • Note:If you're using the Control Panel Classic View, double-click onRegional and Language Optionsand then click theKeyboard and languagestab.
3. 按k on theChange keyboards...button, then click onAdd...
4. 按k the Plus sign next to the language(s) you want from the list, then the Plus sign next toKeyboard. Check the box next to the keyboard(s) you want.
5. 按kOK.
6. 按kApply.
7. In theLanguage Bartab, clickDocked in the taskbar.
8. 按kApply.
9. 按kOK twice.
10. You should now see a language bar in the bottom right corner. Change languages byleft-clicking on the EN (in the language bar)and choosing a different language.

Enable the on-screen keyboard
The on-screen keyboard provides a map of which keys correspond to which character in a foreign language keyboard. To turn it on,

1. Go to theStartmenu.
2. SelectAll Programs > Accessories > Ease of Access > On-Screen Keyboard.

Windows XP

1. ChooseStart>Control Panel.
2. SelectRegional and Languages Options.
3. 按k on theLanguagestab.
   • Check Install files for complex script and right-to-left languages (for Arabic, Hebrew, Thai,etc)
   • Check Install files for East Asian Languages (for Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc)
4. 按kApply(the files will install).
5. When asked to restart, clickYes.
6. When the computer restarts chooseStart > Control Panel.
7. SelectRegional and Languages Options.
8. 按k onAdd other languages(this will open the Regional and Language Options Control Panel).
9. In the Text Services and Input section clickDetails
   
   1. 按k on theSettingstab and then clickAdd
   2. In the Input Language menu choose the language you want to add
   3. In the Keyboard layout menu choose the keyboard you want to add

      Note:For Japanese, keep the default IME keyboards or Japanese will not work.
      

10. 按kOKand thenApply.
11. 按k on theLanguage Bar按钮。
    • If the Language Bar button is grayed out, click onKey Settings...> OK.
12. CheckShow language bar on desktop.
13. CheckShow text labels on language bar.
14. CheckShow additional language bar icons in the task bar.
15. 按kOK.
16. 按kOKagain.
17. Restart the computer.

When the computer restarts...

• You can change the language toolbar settings by right-clicking on the EN button in the system tray at the bottom right of your desktop.
• You can change languages by left-clicking on the EN and choosing a different language.
  

  Note:For East Asian languages you will need to adjust the size of the toolbar to see all of the options. To do this, right-click on the toolbar and select Adjust Language Band Position. You can do this after you switch back to English to shrink the toolbar again.

  Note:To use Japanese Kanji you must click on the Input Mode button in the toolbar to select which character style you want to type in. Direct input will give you English.

Chrome OS(on a Chromebox/Chromebook)

1. 按k your account picture in the Taskbar in the lower-right corner. SelectSettings.
2. Scroll down and clickShow advanced settings.
3. UnderLanguages, clickLanguage and input settings.
4. If you don't see your desired language(s) listed, clickAdd. Click the checkboxes next to any languages you want to use.
5. 按kOk
6. You should seeUS直接向你的账户的左边图片。按k that, then ClickUS keyboardin the menu. Select the language you wish to use.
   • Note:You can quickly switch between keyboard languages by pressingAlt + Shift. PressCtrl + Spaceto switch to your previous language.

Enable the on-screen keyboard
The on-screen keyboard can help with typing accented and special characters. To turn it on,

1. Go toSettings. Scroll down and clickShow advanced settings.
2. UnderAccessibility, checkEnable on-screen keyboard.
3. You should now see two new icons in the Taskbar: a keyboard to the left of the time and a hand to the left of the current language.