A method and apparatus for displaying bi-directional text using a browser program on a computer (20) coupled to drive a display (22) and having an operating system such that the computer normally writes text to the display in a default language in a first, default direction. The computer opens a window (44) on the display and receives a string of codes, each code corresponding to a character in a passage of text (54), at least a portion of which is in a non-default language that is written in a second direction, opposite to the default direction. The computer displays the characters corresponding to the codes in the window such that the passage of text is displayed with all portions thereof arranged in respectively-appropriate directions, substantially without reference to language support provided by the operating system or browser.