This study delves into the second language (L2) acquisition of dynamic se constructions in Spanish by English-speaking learners, shedding light on a linguistic area that remains largely uncharted despite its complexity and significance. Through a detailed investigation of learners at three levels of Spanish instruction and native Spanish speakers, this research aims to answer pivotal questions regarding the differentiation between absolute and energetic contexts, the evolution of L2 acquisition patterns across proficiency levels, and the comparative performance of L2 learners and native speakers. The findings reveal that learners’ ability to distinguish between contexts and accurately employ se constructions improves with proficiency, with graduate-level learners exhibiting a close approximation to native speaker usage. However, the study also identifies persistent challenges in the acquisition process, particularly among intermediate and advanced learners, and underscores the impact of lexical chunking on verb form selection. This study not only advances our understanding of the nuanced acquisition of se constructions but also highlights the necessity for future empirical inquiry into Spanish SLA.