* Two Syllables: Yes, "began" has two syllables: be-gan.
* Short Vowel: Yes, the first syllable "be" has a short vowel sound.
However, the vowel sound in the first syllable of "began" is a diphthong (two vowel sounds blended together), not a short vowel sound. The "e" sound in "be" is actually a combination of the short "e" sound followed by a schwa sound.