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You don't have to switch to Firefox or Chrome, but there's one big reason for the beginning Japanese learner to keep one of them around: The Rikaichan extension for Firefox, or her little brother, the Rikaikun extension for Chrome.
And this is why. Suppose you want to know what this sentence says:
私の車のかぎはどこにありますか。
So you start Firefox or Chrome, load the web page you found this text on, and turn on Rikaichan (ALT-Insert) or Rikaikun (理 button). Now simply move your cursor over the text:

"I"

"My"

"My car" + の
"My car's"

"My car's key"

"My car's key [←topic]"

"My car's key [←topic] where"

"My car's key [←topic] where [←locative]"

"My car's key [←topic] where [←locative] to be"

"My car's key [←topic] where [←locative] to be [question]"
In proper English: "Where are my car keys?"
Looks simple, doesn't it? Well not really, without knowing grammar, all you get is a loose mumble of words. But if you're like me and have trouble remembering words then this is a great help. It allows me to focus on grammar so I can at least parse a sentence, because that's what I need most right now. The words can wait, Rikaichan and Rikaikun will take care of them.