[chammi]

I work in Japan and even though most of the non-Japanese teachers don't know about it because there are lots of photos taken in the classroom, it IS a big deal for us.

Students have to sign release forms (which I think the school files). It is to the point where kids have sharpie lines drawn over their eyes in the class photos (In Japan, one's eyes are considered the most revealing part of the face--that's why sunglasses are not popular as everyday wear--and why people censor for privacy with black bars over the eyes.)

Anyway, you should check with your school to see if the students' guardians have already signed (or not signed) release forms.

Another thing that complicates your situation is involving a website. This is a big privacy concern--especially if the site is not an official school site. There are some EFL teachers who post lessons online (like Youtube). I think these are useful, but I would definitely make sure you have parental consent.

They will need to know your rationale, how you intend to use the videos and where they can be found. I would consider including contact information and an invitation to discuss their concerns with you. I realize this may be difficult in a non-English speaking country, but the parents need to have a forum for discussing this before they consent--even if you need to use a third party for interpretation.


If you are recording adults, you will still need to get consent, but since the students are not minors, it's much simpler. It's also a nice courtesy to show them where they can view the videos as part of your consent letter.