I think it depends on the circumstances:
A lecture sounds like talking in front of a congress or like a professor "teaching" the students.
In cases of one student/pupil talking to (a limited number of) other students/pupils I learned to use the word "talk" instead of "lecture".
But generally I think there are nicer ways to start a talk of whatever kind, like just starting to tell an anecdote or some recent events suiting your topic, if your time frame permits you to.
(Still I only learned English and someone who speaks it natively might have a better idea about it!)