After the lecture Advice for students from a non-English speaking background Students vary greatly in what they get out of lectures. Largely, it's a question of 'what you get out depends on what you put in'. The more actively you listen, the better. There are some practical techniques, such as preparing for the lecture ahead of time, taking notes and following up on your notes after the lecture which can help you to get much the most out of your lectures. But first it's a good idea to consider why universities continue the tradition of giving lectures.
Lectures provide an opportunity to teach a large number of students at one time.
However, different lecturers use lecture-time for different purposes. It is important for students to work out what their particular lecturer is expecting of them in lectures. In traditional lectures, university teachers use the opportunity to communicate a body of knowledge to students, and to induct them into their area of study. In other words, they 'talk at' their students. In this case it is appropriate for students to try to absorb as much as possible by listening carefully and taking notes.