Hi Michelle,
This is how I set it in similar project (assuming that you’ll get the source text in different files, one for each language).
Create General master with 5 columns and 5 temporary master pages, each one with one column in the appropriate location.
The first temporary master (Col-1) is based on the General master, but set to one column and has margins accordingly.
The second temporary master (Col-2) is based on the Col-1 master, but its margins are shifted in 1 column width + gutter.
The third temporary master (Col-3) is based on the Col-2 master, but its margins are shifted in 1 column width + gutter.
Same procedure for setting Col-4 and Col-5.
(Notice that in master spreads you have to set the margins for each page separately)

Now to the text import:
Apply master Col-1 to all your working pages, import the text for column 1. The text will flow throughout the first column on every page.
Apply master Col-2 to all your working pages, import the text for column 2. The text will flow throughout the second column on every page.
Same procedure for the other columns.
Now you can apply the General master to all your working pages and start working.

You can change the cursor behavior in RTL text by changing some keyboard shortcuts. Go to “Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts” and create new set (I call it RTL set).

In the “Product Area” choose “Text and Tables”. The relevant commands are:

Move to the left one character

Move to the left one word

Move to the right one character

Move to the right one word

Select one character to the left

Select one character to the right

Select one word to the left

Select one word to the right

For each of these commands you have to delete the original shortcut and replace it with similar shortcut but with opposite direction arrow. Then, change the “Context” to” text”, press Assign and thats it.

When working with LTR text you can switch to your original KBS set.