Yes mod-ern is a second syllable word because you can put your hand under your throat and see how much your mouth opens wide.............
No, "modern" is not a first-syllable word. The stressed syllable in "modern" is the second syllable, pronounced as "mod-ern."
second accented syllable
The word modern is stressed on the first syllable. Mod-ern.
The word "survive" has the accent on the second syllable. The stress is on the "vive" part of the word.
For the word, forlorn, the accent is on the second syllable.
The word "surprise" has the second syllable accented (sur-prise).
The second syllable is accented.
MODERN
MODERN
The second syllable is unstressed.
The word balance is a unstressed first syllable.
The second syllable in the word "syllable" is accented.