There are rows of seats filled by many dozens or even hundreds of students, and they are all listening to what the professor is saying. Everyone is taking notes, and rarely, if ever, do students ask questions or make presentations to the rest of the class. Lecture courses are fairly common at the freshman and sophomore levels, and they are similar to what students experience in much of the rest of the world. If you are concerned about your ability to use English, you will probably find lecture courses comfortable, but you won't be able to take lecture classes throughout your degree. If you use your time in lecture courses to work on your English, both by listening and taking notes in English, you'll be better prepared for seminar courses later on.
Seminar courses Seminar courses are more common in the U.S. than other countries.
Students in seminar courses are expected to be prepared to answer questions posed by the professor and to ask questions when they don't understand something or when they have an idea that could contribute to the discussion. Seminar courses generally have between ten and thirty students, so they provide an intimate setting that allows each student to speak up and make certain they understand the material. Perhaps you're nervous about speaking up in class, but your professors will usually understand that. Nonetheless, you have to get past your fear and learn to participate. You will get better grades and learn more if you do.