Windows Narrator - Windows 2000 version

[vvvroom]

Narrator enables you to have menu's, web addresses, pop-up messages, etc, read out aloud by a computerised voice.

Is there any way I can quickly proof my own emails, word documents, by having these read aloud also. I have tried highlighting the text, however, this fails to work? Any ideas?

I recall a certain version of Microsoft Word used to have a 'speech' function. This did exactly what I'm looking for. Can this be achieved with the Microsoft office 2000 suite.