I would like to say that I just completed my very first semester in college,
but I'm not sure of the most natural way to phrase it. Here's my attempt:
最近、大学には最初の学期がもう終わりました。
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2015-12-14T15:34:44.317
29853
2015-12-15T07:43:42.823
10587
question
word-usage
How to phrase "first semester in college"
I'd say

> 大学で最初の学期が終わった`ところ`です。

or

> 大学で最初の学期が終わった`ばかり`です。

If the listener knows anything about you, then you would probably not need to
clarify that the semester was a semester of college.

If you use `ところ` it feels like you are in the context of a timeline. Like past
events have already been discussed, `ところ` zooms into right now. I don't think
context is needed for `ばかり`.

I'm not a native speaker, but no one has offered an answer so far.
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2015-12-15T04:06:11.627
29864
2015-12-15T04:06:11.627
10547
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answer
Most people use 学期 along with their numeral, i.e. 1学期, 2学期 and (sometimes)
3学期. Using 一, 二 and 三 is also fine.

I'd go for a somehow simpler

> 大学の最初の1学期がもう終わった。

Even though 最初の1学期 seems redundant, it's easier to catch than 最初の学期.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-15T07:43:42.823
29866
2015-12-15T07:43:42.823
9528
29853
answer