I took the Riders Edge Course in June and purchased a bike in October. They taught you to walk the first two  steps as the bike started to move and then lift your feet for stability.
 This works fine when going straight or making a sharp right from a stop, but doesn't work when making a left from a stop on to a two lane road. I'm going crazy trying to get the bike moving across the one lane and then having the stability to make the left into the second lane.
 I either go to slow and have to put my left foot down or go to fast and miss the turn. I've done hundreds of these turns in a parking lot using every technique I can think of, but just get worse and more confused.
 Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!  

I would suggest you find a buddy who is an experienced rider and have him/her demonstrate this for you in a parking lot until you see about how fast they are going, how their body stays lined up with the bike as it leans for the turn etc.  Then have them watch you do the same and offer you feedback on what is happening when you turn.  Do this until you are comfortable with the turns.  

Thanks for the suggestion. I spoke to a friend who has been riding for years and she suggested scrapping those first two steps and get both feet up as soon as the bike starts to move. I tried this today and it's helped a lot with those turns. The toughest part is I'm a little unstabe as I start to move bringing both feet up at once because I'm not used to it. I just need to practice it until it comes natural. Thanks for your help.  

Your friend is right. The feet belong on the pegs as soon as the bike is rolling. If you leave them down, there's a temptation to try to adjust with the feet. It usually ends in pain.
Even turning right from a single lane to a single lane, you have enough time to get moving, then make the right with feet on the pegs. Turning left is the same, only you get another 15 ft before you make the turn.  

Remember to follow thru the turn with your head. I am sure that your instructors went over this. As well as getting your feet off the ground the bike will go pretty much where you are looking. If you are looking down.....the bike will be much more shakey as you are fighting the direction the bike wants to go...follow the turn with your eyes and head...it will become smoother almost immediatly...many riders (even experienced ones)that find  themselves into a turn a little to fast will look to the edge of the road and find that the bike follows pretty quickly to where they are looking. Even slower turns can be affected so try to steer as much with your eyes and head as well as your hands and body....Phil  

Try to avoid the paddle footing that many cruiser riders do when stopping and starting.
It appears to be (and probably is) the mad rush of a nervous,inexperienced rider in panic mode trying not to fall from his bike not unlike after Dad had just removed the training wheels.
Practice in a parking lot just putting one foot down as you stop and await the opportunity to accelerate off. Balance is key here.

The paddle footing is sloppy technique identifying you as an inexperienced or just sloppy rider.

Your Library may have the book "Proficient Motorcycling" by David L. Hough. Read this book! following it's teachings will  improve your skills and enhance your understanding of the whys and wherefores of safe and competent motorcycle operation.  

The reason that doesn't work is you have to cross the first 2 lanes of traffic first.

First of all you have to get out of the mode you were in when you were in the car. That doesn't work in this world here. It's closer to Fighter Pilot mode.

On a bike that's larger than normal for your ability, your first and only thoughts are to constantly set up your next move ahead of time like a pool shark taking on 'Minnesota Fats' for fifty G's. You don't have the luxury you did in your car rapped in steel.
So look ahead to set up the turn before you stop. Be already in gear, never Neutral.
This also takes in account you protect your space so others do not try the squeeze play.
Never drag your feet. A broken ankle can take a year or more to mend because it got caught under a foot rest with 800 lbs trying to mold it into something else.
When you launch, the machine is capable of continuing on it's own without you on it.
Counter steer is what makes it obey the command. If this is not mastered, then practice late at night at a closed WALMART lot.
Set up invisible markers that you have to avoid, then dodge that point or mark on the pavement, at different speeds.
I've watched people drive straight off the curve and into the trees when they thought they only had to lean.

Crossing the first 2 lanes of traffic to make a left is no different than going straight under power.
You accelerate straight just to the point of making the turn.
Applying brakes, or throttle down to turn left.

Making Turns, Stay at least a car length away from the one in front of you at all times as this is your cushion to make adjustments under 20 mph. Usually 2nd gear makes a smoother turn slipping the clutch a little. First gear can actually get upset too quickly with a closed throttle and throw off your balance. Or an engine kill that locked up the rear wheel that throws you to the ground.
Once under way in traffic, weather it's 30 mph or 70 mph, power up to the clearest section of less traffic. It they crowd you in, make it a point not to be. This is where serious mistakes take place. If you see cell phone or make-up action, do not follow this vehicle for any reason.

Here is one last tip that will keep you alive,, Never ever lead an open intersection where anyone can turn left in front of you. Always use other vehicles as battering rams to get through the intersection.

There Ya go, your all set.
After 40 + years, the rules never change, just different players.  

Invest a small amount of money, and buy the "Ride like a Pro IV" CD. It is worth the small amount of money, you will be able to ride just like they show you with practice. I wish they taught this tecnique in the course I attended. It seems very simple, but once you see what they teach, and practice, it is old hat. It really helped me and my husband who has ridden for a long time.  

Just wanted to thank everyone for the replies and sugggestions. Been practing getting both feet up as soon as the bike starts to move and making progress. Also ordered the DVD Ride Like A Pro IV. Sounds real good, look forward to learning from it. Thanks for telling me about it. Appreciate all the help!  

To Naturelover56,
 I got the video and have started using some of the techniques in my riding, but haven't started the practice exercises yet. My question is they say after 10-15 minutes of riding you should allow the bike to cool down, especially the clutch and rear brake.  
 To cool down, do you take it for a ride, letting it cool down and recharging the battery, or do you just shut the bike off and let it cool. And whether riding it or letting it sit, how long do you allow it to cool down before continuing to practice. Thanks a lot for the help!  

If you are working the clutch for friction zone feel, you might need to let the material cool down.
If you're doing parking lot type stuff, it's unlikely that you're going to overheat the brakes(1 stop at 30 is about the same as 4 quick stops from 15... and 1 stop from 60 is about the same as 4 stops from 30). They're usually polite, and will give you the smell of roast brake.

You are likely to have a problem with low rpms, and the headlight being on (alternator needs rpms on the engine to actually charge the battery). A lot of people get tagged with that combo in stop and go traffic during the summer. Then toss in a vapor lock. .. not good.  

Doing much better taking off with both feet up. Still having a problem with the left turns though. It is a different problem. Before taking off I tilt the wheel slightly to the left. I look in the direction I need to go. As soon as I start to move to the left my hands involuntarily straighten out the handle bars. No matter how hard I try to keep the bar turned to the left and lean to the left I seem to involuntarily straighten out the handle bars anyway. Has anyone ever had a problem like this? And if so how did you overcome it? I've practiced over and over but I am still having the problem. It's very frustrating. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.  

Are you sure that your hands are staightening the bars and not the momentum of the bike when it starts to roll?  Try having some forward momentum before you turn and lean and see if that helps.  

HI; You need to relax just a bit.You need to lean into the left turn while looking left. Once you get into the turn give it some throttle. This will help streighten the bike after the turn. Keep at least a car lenght or two between rigs if possable.
Find a less traveled road and practice or a large parking lot.  Useing the parking spaces for the lanes. If you need try to get some safety cones and place them as to simulate the lanes. This is what I did for my nephew. He seemed to learn while knocking the cones down. They seem to give him somthing to focus on. Keep it up. You will get it ..   scruffy..  

Slipping the clutch was the key for me.  After taking the MSF course I bought a used 650 Savage.  Rode for a couple of weeks in the neighborhood no problems.  Then I made a left hand turn from a stop sign, forgot to slip the clutch, hit the opposite curb and dropped the bike.  I am pretty careful now about controlling the bike speed with both throttle and clutch when starting a turn from a stop.