What is the difference between 讲课 and 演讲?

Question

What is the difference? 演讲, according to my dictionary, is either a speech (in general, like a politician would give) or a lecture (at a university or so), while 讲课 is just the lecture, as in a lesson. Is that the correct way to distinguish the two?

Answer 1

讲课

is strictly a verb meaning:

to teach/to give lessons (in ....)

演讲

can be a noun meaning

speech

or a verb meaning

to give a speech

Both could be translated as: lecture, if you wanted.

The biggest difference is the 课 in 讲课 - meaning class or course.

Answer 2

講課 usually exclusively refers to a lecture in a school or university, while 演講 is not restricted to such context. Every kind of (somewhat formal) "speech" may be said a 演講.